It's the last eight of the Champions League for Chelsea as Michael Essien and Didier Drogba equalise Juventus goals in each half.

For Essien it was the moment he has been dreaming about for six months, and it came seconds before half-time to alter the complexion of a contest that had been going against Chelsea following Juventus's 14^th minute opener.

The Blues had been second best but after the break were well on course until a penalty award put the pressure back on. Happily Drogba's fourth goal in five games kept the now steady ship sailing on in three competitions.

Hiddink gave a surprise to most with his team selection, naming Essien for his first start in since injury on the right of the front three, tucking back and infield when we didn't have the ball. It was the position he occupied in a pre-season friendly in Moscow, and with some success too - scoring a fine goal.

Nicolas Anelka also returned after two games out to play on the left. Those changes apart, it was a side familiar from recent matches.

Robbed by injury of the right side of the midfield he selected in a 4-4-2 at the Bridge, Ranieri moved to a 4-3-3, allowing the selection of Iaquinta, Trezeguet and Del Piero in attack. Mellberg returned to central defence with Grygera back from injury at right-back.

In the first minute, an Essien stumble meant Del Piero was able to cross but Nedved ballooned a header well, well over.

Juventus forced two corners within the first seven minutes, Del Piero the taker on both occasions with no damage inflicted.

While Juve's favourite son was hogging the set-pieces, their other long-serving star, Pavel Nedved was on the wrong end of all the early collisions. Twice the former European Player of the Year needed treatment in the opening 10 minutes.

The second bash was in the ribs by Anelka and it proved too much. The Czech was withdrawn with 12 minutes gone, Salihamidzic the replacement.

The first-half was producing a disjointed game, and Chelsea were not playing well. But at least the Italians did not look like scoring either.

That was until the 18^th minute when a ball out wide was flicked on to Iaquinta down the inside right channel by Trezeguet. The striker raced away behind Terry and from an angle, his aim was unerring, smashing the ball beyond Cech.

How much had that changed the game? Still one Chelsea goal would push the tie massively in our favour.

Mikel hit a long hopeful ball to Drogba but an under-pressure header went over. Then Del Piero forced Cech to punch over from distance.

Suddenly there was more pace about the game. Iaquinta, tall, pretty quick and playing in the centre of the attack, was causing more concern.

Chelsea at least pushed into the Juventus half for periods in the 10 minutes before the break, trying to use Anelka who was stationed well wide - but the balls into the box from a variety of sources were inaccurate.

Two minutes before the break the Blues won a free-kick for handball in a promising position. Drogba then won the contest to take on Buffon and looked to have beaten the World Cup-winning keeper as a low thumped shot was stopped just inside the post. The linesman was having none of it, despite a cacophony of Chelsea appeals.

Was another Champions League goal-line controversy to go against Chelsea as at Anfield four year ago?

The moment suddenly seemed a lot less crucial when Lampard took a swing from distance and back-peddling, Buffon deflected it onto the bar. Again it bounced down into the area of uncertainty on the line. This time however, an express train was haring in. No way were the Juventus defenders going to stop Michael Essien charging the ball into the net.

It is pretty easy to guess the difference in atmosphere in the two dressing rooms during the 15 minute break.

Chelsea came out so much more positive in intent than in the first half and the Juve fans' whistles were growing more intense with every refereeing whistle blast or misplaced pass by the famous white and black shirts.

Chiellini was booked for taken down Ballack on 53 minutes, joining Salihamidzic from just before the interval.

Terry got a vital flicked header in to prevent a cross reaching Iaquinta just before the striker was the victim of Ranieri's first change. He was taken off in favour of Giovinco. Did the Juve fans not like that!

Moments later Cech handled outside his box as he contested a ball with Del Piero near the byeline. That was the first Chelsea booking.

The diminutive sub Giovinco crossed for Trezeguet to head on-target but Cech met the challenge.

Then on 65 minutes Essien's night ended with the introduction of Belletti in a similar role. Drogba was the next booked for a halfway line foul but just seconds later he was caught himself. Juventus's increasing slender hopes suddenly became a lot thinner as Chiellini was shown a second yellow. The Italians would play the final 20 minutes with only 10 men.

However all was not against them. Initially a free-kick ricocheted off the wall and a Trezeguet header was well saved by Cech, but amid minutes of confusion it soon became clear the Spanish ref had given a penalty for a handball by Belletti in the wall.

Del Piero shuffled up and passed into the net to give the Blues a big task of keeping the resurgent home team out for another 15 minutes.

Sure enough the Bianconeri pushed hard but that of course meant the back door was slightly ajar. And it was through that gap that the Blues burst on 82 minutes - Ballack steaming away down the right to cross for Drogba to stretch and slide home from close range, sending 1500 Chelsea away followers into delirium.

From a cauldron moments before, the atmosphere in the Stadio Olimpico was now funereal.

Now the only team likely to score again were Chelsea, Buffon stopping a Lampard volley and doing just as well to keep out Belletti in stoppage time.

The whistle blew on the first game not won under Guus Hiddink, but this felt like a mighty, mighty big win.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Carvalho 88), Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Essien (Belletti 65), Drogba, Anelka.

Scorers Essien 45, Drogba 82.

Booked Cech 62, Drogba 68, Cole 87, Anelka 90.

Juventus (4-3-3): Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Tiago, Marchisio, Nedved (Salihamidzic 12); Del Piero, Iaquinta (Giovinco 60), Trezeguet (Amauri 78).

Scorers Iaquinta 18, Del Piero 72 pen.

Sent-off Chiellini 69

Booked Salihamidzic 45+1, Chiellini 53, Del Piero 90.

Catch the game in full on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday, with extended highlights on Chelsea Plus.