Chelsea lost ground in the Barclays Premier League title race after Robbie Keane's dramatic late equaliser earned a point for Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling encounter at White Hart Lane.

In a match that never stopped for breath, Didier Drogba's opener was cancelled out by Jonathan Woodgate before Michael Essien and Joe Cole established a two-goal cushion for the visitors.

Spurs staged a comeback and levelled through Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone, then Cole grabbed another goal 10 minutes from the end.

They were denied maximum points, though, when Keane found the top corner in the 88th minute before Berbatov was denied a late winner by a superb Carlo Cudicini save.

Fabio Capello was in the stands to watch his England players distinguish themselves in a typically hectic London derby.

There was plenty for him to digest, starting with the pace of Aaron Lennon up against Ashley Cole down one flank.

Joe Cole was Chelsea's creative force, while Jermaine Jenas and Frank Lampard were up against each other in the centre of midfield, and John Terry had to try to keep Berbatov and Keane quiet.

Capello saw Terry set up the opener in the third minute.

Drogba's free-kick from 25 yards was blocked but the striker then made his way towards the far post. Claude Makelele found Terry on the left and his cross invited a powerful header from Drogba.

It could have been worse for Spurs three minutes later when Drogba turned on the edge of the area and forced a save from Paul Robinson; Joe Cole finished neatly but was ruled offside.

Capello then saw two of his England players combine for an 11th-minute equaliser.

After Lennon had been fouled by Makelele, Jenas swung over the cross from the right and Woodgate, unlike his ricocheted Wembley winner, thudded home his header.

England midfielder Cole, full of invention and energy, created the goal that put Chelsea back in front, in the 20th minute. He weaved his way through the Spurs defence then slipped through Essien, who chipped over Robinson as the goalkeeper rushed out.

Joe Cole extended Chelsea's lead seven minutes into the second period. Makelele fed him the ball and Cole went outside Pascal Chimbonda before getting his shot away. Robinson got to the shot but the ball looped in.

Terry was needed at the other end to intercept a dangerous Steed Malbranque cross - but Berbatov pulled one back from the corner.

Huddlestone, on for Jenas at the break, delivered the set-piece and the Bulgarian outjumped Terry to head in.

Huddlestone levelled the match with 15 minutes remaining, drilling in powerfully after Keane's corner went to the far post.

Cole scored his second in the 80th minute, finding the top corner after getting past Chimbonda again - but Keane earned a point two minutes from time.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the area after the ball had hit Ricardo Carvalho on the back from a long clearance, he curled a delicious effort into the top corner. Berbatov could so nearly have won it too, but his right-foot shot was brilliantly blocked by Cudicini.