Chelsea and Portsmouth shared the spoils in a pulsating match at Fratton Park after debutant Jermain Defoe equalised Nicolas Anelka's second-half opener.

Anelka struck on 55 minutes after a superb counter attack involving three of his team-mates, only to see Defoe race through and finish nine minutes later.

It was the first significant contribution made by the diminutive striker, discounting a woeful attempt to shoot from close range after sneaking through the Chelsea back-line.

Another recent signing in attack Milan Baros struggled to perform for most of the game, shooting lamely from the rebound after Defoe's run. However he also had a big hand in the result, flicking on for the former Spurs man's well-taken goal.

Portsmouth could have snatched the lead in the first half when Noe Paramot leaped to head a Nico Kranjcar corner at goal, the ball looping down only to ricochet off the crossbar.

That was the closest either side came before the break, although midweek scorer Michael Ballack saw a header cleared off the line by the Croatian and Anelka was denied point-black by David James on the stroke of the half.

After Defoe's poor stab at goal Ashley Cole, returning after a rest against Reading, played a one-two with Shaun Wright-Phillips and raced to the by-line. He tried to sneak the ball inside the near post, only for Hermann Hreidarsson to kick clear from the goal-line.

Chelsea notched soon afterwards when Wright-Phillips sent Florent Malouda scurrying down the left and his ball to the far side of the area was cushioned back into Anelka's path by Joe Cole. He finished inside the near post.

There was an unsuccessful shout for handball in the Pompey box as Claude Makelele - uncharacteristically lax in possession throughout - tried to deal with a rising ball.

Paramot clashed heads with Ballack, resulting in a gashed head and bandage for the Germany captain, and similar damage was done to the west London club's title challenge when Defoe scored minutes later.

His run through was well-timed after James's long ball forward from the back was headed into his path by his Czech strike partner and he coolly picked his spot to level.

James pulled off another save when winger Cole squared for Juliano Belletti inside the six-yard box, who then found Anelka - the Frenchman could not get a shot away though.

There was further drama to come when Defoe raced onto a through-ball and clipped over Cech past the near post with the goal gaping then Wright-Phillips found himself clear on the right and lobbed James, only to miss by inches past the far upright.

Defoe flashed a first-time shot in the last minute that rose just over, an effective indication of his rise in confidence after the goal.

Chelsea are six points behind leaders Arsenal after their 3-1 win at Manchester City and still four in arrears of Manchester United, who scored a late equaliser at White Hart Lane against Spurs.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport