Messi scores first career goal vs. Chelsea, saves Barcelona

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Soccer phenom Lionel Messi scored in the 75th minute to save a draw for Barcelona Tuesday against Chelsea.

Barca and Chelsea left Stamford Bridge in London, England with a 1-1 score in the first leg of their Champions League matchup.

The score was the first of Messi's career against the Blues. Chelsea scored the first goal of the match in the 61st minute. Belgian star Eden Hazard found Brazilian midfielder Willian at the top of the circle, just outside the box. Willian tapped the ball to his right twice before booting in a fireball to the right side, beating Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But Messi would equalize just 14 minutes later. Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta intercepted a poor pass from the Chelsea defense and drove toward goal to start the comeback. He fed a wide-open Messi, who buried a shot into the left side of the net, badly beating Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois.

"We were very close to playing a perfect game...There was one mistake but against this type of opponent, if you do that, you pay. There is a bit of disappointment but this game must give us confidence," Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said after the match, according to Chelsea.

Chelsea and Barcelona have a rematch at 3:45 p.m. on March 14 at Camp Nou in Barcelona.