JORGINHO scored two penalties as Chelsea came roaring back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 with nine-man Ajax in a Champions League classic Tuesday, while holders Liverpool claimed a narrow victory and a stuttering Barcelona were held.

There was also a rousing comeback win for Borussia Dortmund, which roared back from two goals down at home against Inter Milan as Achraf Hakimi netted twice to earn a thrilling 3-2 win.

Ajax appeared to be heading for a stunning victory when Hakim Ziyech set up Donny van de Beek to put them 4-1 ahead 10 minutes into the second half.

Before that, Jorginho quickly leveled from the spot after Tammy Abraham’s own goal gave the Dutch champions a second-minute lead, but a Quincy Promes header and a Kepa Arrizabalaga own goal made it 3-1 at the break.

After conceding again, Cesar Azpilicueta poked in from close range for Chelsea to pull it back to 4-2, and then came the crazy moment midway through the second half that really gave them hope.

In one fell swoop, Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi sent off Ajax’s Daley Blind and dismissed Joel Veltman for a second caution for a handball in the box seconds later. Jorginho then converted the resulting penalty.

Teenager Reece James made it 4-4, and Chelsea thought they had gone in front when Azpilicueta fired in, but that goal was disallowed for an Abraham handball.

“I can’t explain the game. For all the things we might analyze back, the madness of the game, we are here for entertainment I suppose and anyone who watched that has to say what a game of football. Respect to Ajax, what a spectacle,” Chelsea boss Frank Lampard told BT Sport.

The result means Ajax, Chelsea and Valencia are level on seven points atop Group H, with the Spaniards coming from behind to beat Lille 4-1.

In Germany, Inter looked to be heading for a second straight win against Dortmund as the side raced into a 2-0 half-time lead with Lautaro Martinez and Matias Vecino scoring.

Yet Dortmund fought back in the second half to win the game as Achraf Hakimi grabbed a brace either side of a Julian Brandt goal.

“It feels brutally good,” goal-scorer Julian Brandt told broadcaster DAZN.

“We all knew how important the game was for us to win, but the second-half reaction was absolutely crazy.

“I think that we are in the development phase and that not everything quite fits yet.

“If everything was perfect, it would also be a bit boring,” he added with a grin.

It is a result that leaves Dortmund second in Group F, three points ahead of Inter and one behind Barcelona, which is still top despite a 0-0 draw at home to Slavia Prague.

Barcelona failed to score for the first time in 46 home games as the side was held to a draw by Slavia Prague.

Lionel Messi almost scored one of his finest goals, hitting the woodwork at the end of an exhilarating run in the first half.

(SD-Agencies)