Soldado sent goalkeeper Petr Cech the wrong way from the spot in the 87th minute after Chelsea substitute Salomon Kalou was adjudged to have handled a cross in the box.
Frank Lampard had given Chelsea the lead with a first-time shot into the bottom corner from Florent Malouda’s cutback in the 56th to cap an intense spell of pressure on Valencia’s goal following halftime.
Chelsea had opportunities to take the lead before Lampard’s strike, but Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves produced breathtaking saves to block Ramires’shot and two efforts from Fernando Torres, before also foiling Nicolas Anelka in the 90th minute.
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