21/02/2007  Porto 1 Chelsea 1
 
Andriy Shevchenko's 58th European goal could prove vital to Chelsea's continued progress in the Champions League but they were left with a major concern over the fitness of captain John Terry ahead of Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Terry was stretchered off in the first half with an ankle ligament injury that will make him a major doubt for Sunday's showdown with rivals Arsenal at Cardiff's Millennium stadium.

The England captain has only just returned to first team action after undergoing major back surgery in December and having his comeback delayed still further by a calf injury.

It could also put a question mark over Terry's involvement in the England squad for the vital European Championship qualifiers against Israel and Andorra next month.

Coach Jose Mourinho, already without defender Khalid Boulahrouz through injury, may be forced to draft left-back Ashley Cole into the squad for Sunday's final.

Cole, out since the end of last month with a knee injury, was playing for the reserves against Reading while Chelsea held on for a draw in Portugal.

Porto took full advantage of Terry's absence by scoring their 11th minute opener while the England skipper was receiving treatment on the sidelines.

A cross from former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga was only half-cleared by the Chelsea defence and Raul Meireles despatched a low volley into the far corner of the net from 20 yards.

It was a cruel double blow for Chelsea who sent on Dutch winger Arjen Robben in place of the stricken Terry - who was carried to the dressing room.

But Chelsea were level in the 16th minute when a clever pass from Robben put Andriy Shevchenko in the clear. The Ukraine striker, the second highest European goalscorer of all time, coolly slotted the ball beyond Helton and into the corner for the leveller.

Porto should have regained the advantage in the 19th minute but Petr Cech denied Lisandro Lopez with a brilliant save.

Cech had to grasp the ball at the second attempt when Ricardo Quaresma sent a 30-yard free-kick beyond Chelsea's defensive wall in the 33rd minute.

Both sides were intent on playing some attacking football and Chelsea appeared to benefit most from Porto's open style.

Two minutes later Claude Makelele was shown the yellow card by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca for complaining that Quaresma should have been booked for diving when challenged by Diarra.

Terry's absence had forced Chelsea to lose the midfield force of Michael Essien who was drafted into the heart of the defence alongside Ricardo Carvalho.

But while they repelled most that Porto had to offer they were almost undone yet again by another long range shot in the 38th minute. Goalscorer Meireles played the ball short for Quaresma and the Porto midfielder hit a swerving shot with the outside of his right foot which cannoned back off Cech's crossbar to safety.

Essien became the second Chelsea player to receive a yellow card when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled Quaresma. The Porto player made the most of what appeared to be a fair tackle by the Ghana international.

Mourinho, who had been given a fairly warm reception by the fans who once idolised him, was booed and abused by them as he leapt from the dugout to question the official's decision.

Mourinho sprang another surprise during the interval, replacing substitute Robben with Mikel Jon Obi.

In the 66th minute, Drogba got his first real shot on goal but the Ivory Coast striker, with 26 goals to his credit in all competitions so far this season, could not find the target from 20 yards.

The game required a spark to lift it but Chelsea were content to weather what little Porto had left in the tank.

Essien was once again proving his class in defence but the absence of Robben left Chelsea without an outlet in attack and they were guilty of some atrocious passing in the final third.

Cech became the third Chelsea player to earn the wrath of referee Busacca when he was booked for complaining about the time taken to deal with an injury to Lucho Gonzales.