Liverpool's Robbie Keane (left) scores past PSV Eindhoven's goalkeeper, Andreas Isaksson (right), despite the efforts of Dirk Marcellis, during their Champions League Group D match at Anfield yesterday. Liverpool won 3-1. - AP

LONDON (AP):

LIONEL MESSI scored two late goals yesterday to give FC Barcelona a 2-1 victory at Shakhtar Donestsk and AS Roma also avoided a shock defeat in the Champions League by rallying to win 3-1 at Bordeaux.

Things were more straightforward for Liverpool, who defeated PSV Eindhoven 3-1, and Atletico Madrid, who beat Marseille 2-1. But Chelsea drew 0-0 at unheralded CFR Cluj in another of the day's eight group matches.

Two-time European Champions

Shakhtar looked set to embarrass two-time European Champions Barcelona when Ilsinho scored in the 45th minute, but Messi struck in the 87th and then deep into injury time to take his team clear at the top of the Group C standings.

Roma had trailed to an 18th-minute goal by midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, who is on loan from Roma's Italian rivals AC Milan. But the French team had to play with 10 men after Brazilian defender Henrique was sent off in the 36th, and conceded in the second half to Mirko Vucinic and twice to Julio Baptista.

Elsewhere, Werder Bremen drew 1-1 at Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon beat FC Basel 1-0 and Anorthosis Famagusta beat Panathinaikos 3-1.

Barcelona had beaten Sporting 3-1 in their opening match two weeks ago but struggled to break down a stubborn home defence in Ukraine.

Shakhtar had already troubled Barcelona, who won the last of their two European titles in 2006, when visiting defender Gerard Pique struggled to control a long up-field pass. Pique glanced the ball to Ilsinho, who held off a challenge by Carles Puyol and flicked it past goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Three minutes

Barca laboured until Messi took over with three minutes of regular time left. The Argentina forward made it 1-1 when goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov failed to deal with a right-wing cross and then won the match with a finely judged chip.

Messi's late show moved Barcelona to six points, three more than Shakhtar and Sporting Lisbon, who beat Basel through second-half goals by Leandro Romagnoli and Derlei.