Chelsea, Lyon miss chance to make Champions League knockouts
Paris, France: Chelsea and Lyon were left to wait for qualification to the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday after failing to claim the wins they needed to book their places in the last 16.
Frank Lampard's Chelsea were eight minutes away from sealing their spot at Valencia when Daniel Wass' overhit cross crashed in off the post to earn the La Liga side a deserved 2-2 draw from a pulsating encounter.
The point puts Valencia top of Group H, level on eight points with Chelsea and one ahead of Ajax, who are hosted by bottom side Lille later on Wednesday.
A win would have put Chelsea through regardless of how Ajax do in France and Christian Pulisic put themselves in a great position with a 50th-minute tap-in to put the Blues ahead.
However the hosts, who had taken the lead through Carlos Soler five minutes before the break only to see Mateo Kovavic level seconds later, put the Premier League outfit through the ringer in the second half and can consider themselves unlucky to not have taken all three points.
Albert Celades missed a host of good chances and watched in horror as Kepa Arrizabalaga pushed away Daniel Parejo's spot-kick 25 minutes from time.
That save could be crucial to deciding Chelsea's fate as they have their destiny in their hands going into the final round of matches.
The Blues will qualify for the last 16 with a home win over Lille, as Ajax will host Valencia and it's impossible for both sides to top the 11 points Chelsea would have should they win at Stamford Bridge on December 10.
Zenit sink Lyon
Lyon meanwhile missed out on a chance to book their place with a match to spare after losing 2-0 at Zenit Saint Petersburg thanks to goals in either half from Artem Dzyuba and Magomed Ozdoev.
A victory in Group G over the Russian Premier League leaders would have claimed a knockout spot for Rudi Garcia's men but the three points for the home side maintain their hopes of reaching the next round.
The French outfit, who sit third behind Zenit but level with the Russians on seven points, welcome Leipzig next as Zenit travel to Benfica on December 10.
