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Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo FC Porto Knock Silent as Juventus Out


Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus crashed into the Champions League second match of the last 16 years on Tuesday and lost to 10-man Porto despite winning the second leg 3–2 in Turin. Sergio Oliveira’s extra-time free-kick sent two former winners Porto through the quarter-finals as the tie ended at 4-4 overall. Leading 2–1 from the first leg in Portugal, Oliveira’s first-half penalty extended Porto’s advantage but Juventus leveled the tie through two goals from Federico Chiassa, the red of Porto striker Mehdi Tarimi Came on either side of the card. Oliveira then gave home a low free-kick for 115 minutes, passing through Ronaldo’s feet with a header from Adrian Rabot in reply coming in vain for Juventus.

“When you make four big mistakes on two legs in the last 16 in the Champions League, you can end up,” said Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo.

“This game will take a few days to wipe from our minds, but then we have to play every game with the right attitude, realize that we are just in March and it is time to climb the Serie A table.”

Juventus were counted by Portuguese striker Ronaldo, the competition’s record goalscorer and in-form Spaniard Alvaro Moreta, who scored six goals in the competition this season, winning them.

But Juventus’ Champions League heartache continued to recede 25 years, falling to the first knockout round for the second year in a row after losing to French club Leone last year.

Veteran Porto defender Pepe said, “The job of the entire team was important to be fully qualified.”

“It’s hard to explain the words the way we managed to react (playing with 10 men. Today we showed a lot of character: the players were focused and that made it easier for us.”

In his first season as the coach of Jervas, Pirlo reclaimed a number of injured players, including midfielder Arthur and defender Leonardo Bonucci, but captain Giorgio Chiellini Danilo was suspended.

Porto goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin produced a quick opening save to take away the Morata header, while Tarimi shook his head against the crossbar at the other end in a lively start to the game.

The Italian champions were left behind on the night when Merri Demirel scored a penalty after tying Taremi in the box, with Dutch referee Björn Kuipers pointing to the spot.

Oliveira made no mistake, sending Wojciech Szczyny to give the visitors a 3–1 advantage.

Marchesin continued his valor, blocking Argentina from Morata on 26 minutes and Rabot minutes later after a distance from the French midfielder.

– Re-awaken Chiasa Juve’s expectations

Juve bounced back after the break due to a double from Chesa, scoring the first goal on 49 minutes when Ronaldo controlled and knocked back from behind for Chiasa to curl the Marchingin from a tight angle.

Porto soon relegated one to two quick yellow cards with Taremi, the other carelessly taking the ball away.

Porto managed to hold on despite Irani’s absence, with Pepe intervening brilliantly to force Chiesa to hit the fours after scoring the Marches.

Chiassa made no mistake just after the hour when another perfect Juan Cuadrado was heading to the cross, which Marchesin shook hands again, but could not hold Juve’s level at 3-3 on aggregate.

Ronaldo did not get a chance to add to his 134 Champions League goals, being wide 12 minutes after going for a Quadrado delivery.

It was the end to end the action with Marchisin denying Chiassa a hat-trick, while Morata aimed to rule for offside in injury time, before Curado repeatedly hit his curling. The shot was desperate to see Smack.

Porto had the best chance of the first 15 minutes in extra time with Skagesni blocking a Moussa Marega header.

Promoted

But Oliveira won the free-kick and fired in the short to beat Szeksanyi in 115 minutes between wild celebrations from the Portuguese bench.

Two minutes later, Rabot put Juventus back in contention, but the hosts could not score another goal as their European adventure ended prematurely.

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