体坛英语新闻：Arsenal rally back to draw Barca 2-2 in Champions League

LONDON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Arsenal fought back from two goals down to draw Barcelona 2-2 in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas converted a late penalty to equalize after being brought down by Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, who was sent off.

But Fabregas was yellow carded earlier in the match and will be suspended for the second leg to Barcelona.

Barcelona pounced all over Arsenal throughout the first half at Emirates Stadium and the Gunners were very lucky to go into halftime with the score 0-0.

Brilliant goalkeeping by Manuel Almunia and key blocks from defenders kept the first-leg match from being all over by the 15th minute.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) drives the ball against Arsenal during their Champions League quarter-finals first leg soccer match at Emirates stadium in London, March 31, 2010. Barcelona drew 2-2 with Arsenal.

30 seconds into the second half, Zlatan Ibrahimovic latched onto a long ball from Gerard Pique and lifted it over Almunia.

Ibrahimovic, who atoned for earlier misses, scored his second in the 59th minute when he beat the offside trap. He was unmarked when he blasted the ball past Almunia from the right.

Theo Walcott pulled a goal back for Arsenal three minutes after going on as a substitute when he struck a low shot past Victor Valdes from the right after a pass from Nicklas Bendtner in the 69th.

Arsenal continued to pile pressure on in the latter stages and it paid off when Fabregas was brought down by Puyol in the 84th.

Fabregas, who had passed a late fitness test after picking up a leg injury on Saturday, appeared to sustain another knock and he limped around during the final minutes.

Barcelona exerted a brutal display of attacking soccer. The visitors had five clear chances in the first nine minutes and two of them in the first 70 seconds. Barcelona had around 75 percent possession in the first 20 minutes.

Arsenal's first chance came in the 23rd when Samir Nasri cut the ball onto his right foot for his shot from the left to go just wide of the far post. Arsenal's second opportunity came in the 35th when Bendtner's cross from the right found Abou Diaby but he couldn't direct his header.

The second leg will be staged at Camp Nou on April 6.