Chelsea have earned a penalty shootout victory over Barcelona after a 2-2 draw in the International Champions Cup in Washington DC.

The Blues started on the front foot and came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when Kurt Zouma's header from Cesc Fabregas's cross was palmed away by Barca stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Jose Mourinho's side broke the deadlock with 10 minutes played as Eden Hazard ghosted through the Barcelona defence and rifled an unstoppable effort beyond Ter Stegen.

The Spanish champions' first meaningful effort came in the 15th minute when Luis Suarez picked out Ivan Rakitic with a through-ball, and the Croatian forced Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into action with a first-time strike that the Belgian could only parry.

End-to-end action followed as a glancing header from Suarez sailed narrowly over in the 23rd minute, and Oscar crashed an effort against the crossbar at the other end moments later.

It should have been 2-0 to Chelsea just after the half-hour mark as Diego Costa raced clean through on goal, only to put his effort wide with just Ter Stegen to beat.

Suarez looked determined to get his name on the scoresheet as the first half drew to close, but the in-form Courtois twice denied the former Liverpool man before the referee blew for half time.

However, he would not be denied after the break as he calmly lofted the ball over the keeper from close range after Cesar Azpilicueta failed to clear a cross.

Just 10 minutes later they scored again, as Sandro Ramirez cut inside Branislav Ivanovic on the left before bending an effort inside Courtois's post.

Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages, but Radamel Falcao's acrobatic volley flew high over the bar.

However, they should have equalised minutes later when the Colombian striker played in Ramires, but he mis-hit his shot wide from inside the box.

Barcelona almost extended their lead as Pedro struck a shot into the side-netting, but Gary Cahill brought Chelsea level minutes later when he bravely beat substitute keeper Jordi Masip to a half-cleared corner to loop a header into an unguarded net.

The England international sustained a bloody nose in the incident, and had to be replaced in the final four minutes as the game drifted to penalties.

Both sides scored their first kicks, but Alen Halilovic chipped his effort onto the crossbar to give Chelsea an advantage.

Gerard Pique then missed his spot kick for Barcelona, before Loic Remy confirmed Chelsea's win with an expertly placed effort.