Porto snatched a shock last-gasp 1-0 victory over Arsenal as Galeno netted a elegant effort deep in stoppage time of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. A colorless conflict was deadlocked till the fifth minute of added time when the Brazilian winger curled an unstoppable effort previous David Raya to ship the Estadio Do Dragao crowd wild.
Arsenal, who had scored 21 objectives of their final 5 Premier League video games, have been unusually subdued in assault and didn’t register an effort on track all through a cagey contest.
They defended solidly sufficient however might dwell to remorse their lack of urgency as Galeno gave Porto the sting forward of the second leg in London on March 12.
Arsenal are in search of to achieve the quarter-finals for the primary time since 2010 with their final seven Champions League campaigns all ending within the final 16.
“We had to manage the game better when you can’t win,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta stated. “We lacked threat and aggression in the final third and we need to tweak a few things. We can do better.
“If you need to be within the quarter-finals it’s important to beat your opponent and that is what we must do on the Emirates now.”
Reassuringly for Arsenal, Porto have a terrible record away against English clubs and have never scored at Arsenal, conceding 11 in three visits.
But the 30-time Portuguese champions will travel with hope.
Arteta’s side controlled possession throughout the game but apart from a couple of headers from William Saliba and Kai Havertz, both from corners, they never really looked like scoring.
Porto grew in confidence and somehow failed to go ahead in the 21st minute after a slick counter-attack.
Galeno thumped a powerful shot against the far post and when the ball came back to him at pace in a flash he placed the rebound agonisingly wide of the other post.
With the 40-year-old Pepe, the oldest player to appear in a Champions League knockout round game, showing his vast experience at the back, Porto comfortably dealt with Arsenal’s attack and kept England forward Bukayo Saka quiet.
Porto occasionally threatened and had another chance shortly before the break when Evanilson drove a shot at Raya.
The second half was even less exciting than the first with Arsenal struggling to gain any rhythm against their wily hosts. But the best was saved to last as Galeno seized on a loose ball and advanced to the edge of the penalty area before looking up and bending a shot past Raya. “It was a kick within the enamel,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said. “We have to vary our method within the house leg and provides it completely all the pieces.”
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
