AGUERO GIVES CHELSEA REMINDER

CHELSEA are through to the last 16 of the Champions League after a brace of goals from Didier Drogba but it was another striker who really caught the eye in Group D.

Ivorian Drogba, who marked his return from European suspension with two goals, struck twice in the final eight minutes before a sublime reponse from Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero.

That Carlo Ancelotti was not celebrating four wins from four games was due exclusively to reported Blues target Aguero, the Argentine substitute beginning and ending the scoring in a topsy-turvy second half.

In a tight first half of few chances former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes produced the best effort, with the Spaniard's 25-yarder bringing out a one-handed save from Petr Cech.

Reyes went into the referee's book shortly afterwards after bringing down his ex-Gunners team-mate Ashley Cole.

Cole then set up Salomon Kalou for a header which the striker put wide before Frank Lampard's effort from the edge of the box drifted wide.

Chelsea may have posed little threat in the first period but came within inches of taking the lead at the restart as Drogba crashed a free-kick against the crossbar.

Quique Sanchez Flores, who had not seen his struggling team score a goal in three Champions League matches this season, then introduced Aguero and the substitute made an instant impact, volleying Atletico into a 66th-minute lead.

Buoyed by the goal, the home side remained the more threatening side but, against the run of play, Drogba equalised eight minutes from time with a header from a Florent Malouda cross.

Drogba looked like he had secured Chelsea an unlikely victory when, after a typically forceful run, he beat goalkeeper Sergio Ansejo at the second attempt.

The hugely talented Aguero was to have the final say though with a magnificent strike that left Cech with no chance. The Argentine's goal a reminder to The Blues, if they needed any, of what a truly wonderful player he is.

• CHELSEA HANDED TRANSFER REPRIEVE
• TRAGEDY SPURS ON DIDIER DROGBA

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