Scolari disappointed as Chelsea fail to cork Bordeaux in Champions League

Chelsea must wait on a seventh straight appearance in the knockout phase of the Champions League after Bordeaux held them 1-1 while the Blues also had Frank Lampard sent off on a night of European drama here on Wednesday.

Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra headed home from a corner with seven minutes remaining to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener as the French side carved out a well-deserved point to send Group A down to the final round of action on December 9 and 10.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech said Chelsea should not have dropped points.

"The moment we scored the goal I thought it was over. I think we should have done better - we should have closed the door," Cech told Sky Sports.

It was not a virtuoso performance from last season's finalists and they were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point despite taking the lead on the hour mark.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was annoyed with his team for giving up a late equaliser especially as the goal was the first they've conceded from a corner.

"If you look at the first 45 minutes and the final result, it is normal but I am not satisfied that they scored from a corner which is the first one since I'm the coach.

"We were strong in attack and it should have been an easy game after we scored. We gave up the goal and lost a player and I'm not satisfied with the goal".

The West Londoners had to wait until the 60th minute for their first shot on goal but when it came, Anelka made Bordeaux pay for all their wasted first half opportunities in the most clinical fashion.

Lampard was the catalyst as he picked up the loose ball in midfield and sprung Anelka with a through ball that caught the Bordeaux defence completely out of position.

The French international then did the rest as he raced clear, faked a couple of shots that brought keeper Matthieu Valverde to his knees and then coolly tucked the ball inside the right hand post for his second goal of the competition and 14th of the season.

It was harsh on the French runners-up, who had given their more illustrious opponents a torrid time up to Anelka's strike.

The goal rattled Bordeaux as Scolari's side sensed the perfect away win that would send them into the next round and they settled back into their possession game, assuming the hard work had been done.

But Diarra sent the Bordeaux faithful home happy with his near post header that also keeps Laurent Blanc's side in the chase for a place in the last 16.

Blanc was evidently delighted with his team's fighting spirit and late goal.

"I am very satisfied with the players and their performance and the players can be too. We tried to stop Chelsea monopolising the ball but we gave up the goal. After the substitutions we kept pushing and got the equaliser.

"I know it's the first goal Chelsea have conceded from a corner and we have been working on set-pieces so I am happy about that.

"Our game plan was to reduce the space and pressure them but that's the best game we've played against a team as good as Chelsea," Blanc said.

Chelsea must now get a result at home to CFR Cluj in their final match while Bordeaux travel to Roma to determine who claims the top two spots in the pool.

"Everyone thought Chelsea and Roma were the favourites to go through but now there's a third team and they're called Bordeaux," said Blanc.

Chelsea will be without Lampard for the Cluj showdown following his red card for a second bookable offence with four minutes left.

Chelsea had no shots in the first half while Bordeaux peppered Cech's goal with seven good attempts but they improved after the break and looked as if they had wrapped up qualification with Anelka's strike before Diarra came to Bordeaux's rescue.