Leandro Trossard and Arsenal have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Gunners did need penalties after it was 1-0 after 120 minutes, the same final score as the first leg in Porto.
Anyone who expected a rush from the home team was initially wrong. The visitors had the game under control in the opening phase. In fact, possession was clearly in favor of the Portuguese. The only chance for Arsenal for a long time came after an attempt by Bukayo Saka, which Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa had more difficulty with than expected. Ultimately, the ball ended up in a corner with more luck than skill.
On the other side, Evanilson was by far the most active of the pack. First with a wild bang, then with a shot between the posts where David Raya had to make a save. In the restart, Wendell’s attempt was blocked by Saka. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Pepe played a hell of a game in the Portuguese defense.
Yet the bald Portuguese football icon saw Arsenal take the lead five minutes before the half-time whistle. Martin Odegaard with a measured pass to the well-running Trossard and our compatriot outwitted Costa in the far corner: 1-0 and everything had to be done again.
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penalty
After tea there was initially little to do in the Emirates Stadium. Evanilson tried with an overhead kick, but Raya easily saved the Porto striker’s attempt. Until the nets trembled again in the 65th minute. Odegaard seemed to take advantage of a misunderstanding between Pepe and Costa to score the 2-0 into an empty goal, but the celebration was canceled. A pushing error by Havertz led to the goal being disallowed.
After that it was calm again between both teams. Arsenal did have some good chances in the end. Gabriel Jesus almost turned out to be a hero with his first ball contact. From the turn he immediately kicked on goal, but the ball disappeared into a corner through Costa’s legs. A minute later, Porto escaped again. Costa made a save on an attempt by Saka and in the restart Odegaard missed incomprehensibly.
So extensions had to be made in London. Literally nothing happened in the first half of it. At the start of the second, Trossard was taken off. Saka had a chance in the 110th minute, but Porto defended well. Penalties had to decide the match. And Arsenal came out on top after two saves from goalkeeper Raya.
The Gunners are in the last eight in the Champions League for the first time since 2010 (!).
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© REUTERS
© REUTERS
© REUTERS