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By Mike Collett
LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Andriy Shevchenko has not exactly enjoyed the best of times since moving to Chelsea last year but a huge smile creased over his face when he found the back of the net for the first time since April on Tuesday.
His 53rd minute equaliser saved Chelsea's blushes after a relatively uninspired display saw them draw 1-1 at home with Rosenborg Trondheim of Norway at Stamford Brige as they made a faltering start to their Champions League campaign.
Shevchenko, who joined Chelsea for 30 million pounds ($60 million) from AC Milan, scored only 12 times in all competitions last season but Tuesday's header reminded a half-empty Stamford Bridge of just how lethal the Ukrainian can be in front of goal.
It was his 60th strike all European club football, taking him to within two goals of equalling Gerd Mueller's all-time record of 62 goals established in the 1970s.
It also brought a smile to the face of Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who has made it known that he wants his club to win the Champions League twice in the next six years.
On Tuesday's faltering performance, they will be lucky to win their group stage this season.
In mitigation, an injury-riddled Chelsea were without, as Jose Mourinho eloquently put it on Monday, their "best eggs".
Without the likes of injured Frank Lampard and striker Didier Drogba, the side appear to lack the cutting edge that makes them such a great side when they are on song.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Although they created 20 scoring chances they only found the net once.
They have now gone three matches without a win and travel to champions Manchester United on Sunday in need of a victory -- or at the very least a vastly improved performance.
Rosenborg were under pressure for much of the match but took the lead after 24 minutes with a well struck goal from Finnish international defender Miika Koppinen after a free-kick from Slovakian midfielder Marek Sapara pierced the Chelsea backline.
Although Rosenborg were largely outplayed, there were glimpses of intelligent midfield creativity and resolve about their play which suggests they will be no-one's whipping boys in a tough group that also includes Valencia and Schalke 04.
Chelsea will probably still advance from that quartet and Mourinho said that although their display alarmed him, "it was no drama".
If Shevchenko begins to start scoring again regularly and his best players return quickly, Chelsea are hard-boiled enough to survive a little set-back like this.
