LONDON - Chelsea stormed back from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in an electrifying FA Cup quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Hossam Ghaly and an own goal by Michael Essien gave Tottenham a 3-1 halftime lead as they looked set to end a 17-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge.
However, Frank Lampard's second goal of the match after 71 minutes gave Chelsea a lifeline and substitute Salomon Kalou volleyed the equaliser four minutes from time to set up a replay on March 19. Manchester United and Middlesbrough must also replay after a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Sapa-AFP reports from Barcelona that Lionel Messi assured himself of a place in Barcelona history with all three of their goals in the 3-3 draw with rivals Real Madrid and the Spanish media were not slow to acclaim him yesterday.
"Messi, Messi, Messi," ran the same headline on the front pages of both the Barcelona-based Spanish sports dailies El Mundo Deportivo and Sport in tribute to the feat, or feet, of the man who has been widely dubbed the New Maradona.
Arguably the world's most talented teenage football player, Messi does not turn 20 until June, but he left the Real defenders breathless during the game.
His last goal came a minute into injury time to salvage a point for the stuttering Spanish champions, whose defence of the Champions League also came to an end at Liverpool last Tuesday.
"This was a special game," said Messi. - Sapa-AFP and Reuters
Blues storm back
LONDON - Chelsea stormed back from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in an electrifying FA Cup quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Hossam Ghaly and an own goal by Michael Essien gave Tottenham a 3-1 halftime lead as they looked set to end a 17-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge.
However, Frank Lampard's second goal of the match after 71 minutes gave Chelsea a lifeline and substitute Salomon Kalou volleyed the equaliser four minutes from time to set up a replay on March 19. Manchester United and Middlesbrough must also replay after a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Sapa-AFP reports from Barcelona that Lionel Messi assured himself of a place in Barcelona history with all three of their goals in the 3-3 draw with rivals Real Madrid and the Spanish media were not slow to acclaim him yesterday.
"Messi, Messi, Messi," ran the same headline on the front pages of both the Barcelona-based Spanish sports dailies El Mundo Deportivo and Sport in tribute to the feat, or feet, of the man who has been widely dubbed the New Maradona.
Arguably the world's most talented teenage football player, Messi does not turn 20 until June, but he left the Real defenders breathless during the game.
His last goal came a minute into injury time to salvage a point for the stuttering Spanish champions, whose defence of the Champions League also came to an end at Liverpool last Tuesday.
"This was a special game," said Messi. - Sapa-AFP and Reuters