SM
West Ham vs. Liverpool: 3 hrs 24 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
P
Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Feb 21, 2024 at 8pm UK
Estadio Do Dragao
AL

Porto
1 - 0
Arsenal

Galeno (90+4')
Conceicao (52'), Conceicao (52'), Gonzalez (62')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Rice (2'), Kiwior (57'), Havertz (61')

Galeno stunner shocks Arsenal as Porto win first leg

:Headline: Galeno stunner shocks Arsenal as Porto win first leg:
Galeno's injury-time wonder strike sees Porto defeat Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 showdown.
Sports Mole

Galeno's injury-time wonder strike left Arsenal dumbfounded as Porto claimed a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 showdown.

A scrappy contest rife with fouls - 36 to be exact - and wasted set-pieces was seemingly destined to end goalless, but as the seconds ticked down, Porto's wing wizard found the far corner with a sublime strike, meaning that the Primeira Liga powerhouses will take a slender lead to the Emirates in three weeks' time.

Mikel Arteta's side dominated the ball throughout the 90 minutes, but the visitors did not have a single shot on target - the first time they failed to do so in the Champions League since losing to Barcelona in March 2011 - but Porto's unbreakable defensive structure made life incredibly difficult for the hitherto free-scoring Premier League team.

The earliest exchanges could certainly be described as two teams feeling each other out, as Arsenal settled into a period of possession, but Sergio Conceicao's team were operating with a high press and sought to limit the centre-backs' time on the ball.

Porto should have drawn first blood with the game's first gilt-edged chance in the 21st minute, as Francisco Conceicao's cross was deflected into the path of Galeno, but the Brazilian struck the far post before inexplicably firing the rebound wide of the other side of David Raya's goal.

William Saliba's blushes in particular were spared by Galeno's shocking miss - the Frenchman was totally asleep as the Porto attacker crept up behind him - but he tried to make amends from a 35th-minute Bukayo Saka corner, only to head wide at the back post.

Bedlam reigned supreme in the penalty box whenever Arsenal won a corner, with jostling aplenty and several Porto shirts hitting the deck as the ball was swung in, but Conceicao's side were effectively stifling the Gunners' well-documented threat from dead ball situations.

For all of the visitors' possession, the Dragons would fashion the most promising opportunities and created another in the 40th minute, when Evanilson stole the ball from Gabriel Martinelli and combined well with attacker Pepe down the right, but his low shot from a tight angle was straight into Raya's body.

Normal service resumed in the second half, where Arsenal once again required a set-piece to have a sight of goal - Leandro Trossard volleyed over from Declan Rice's drilled corner - but referee Serdar Gozubuyuk had already blown for a foul.

Clear-cut chances remained at a premium for both teams, although with 67 minutes gone, Pepe sprinted past Kai Havertz into the box and managed to cut back for Evanilson, whose strike was deflected over the top by an alert Rice.

Fouls and stoppages were the order of the day as the clock wound down, and after Arsenal wasted another aerial opportunity from a dead-ball situation - Gabriel Magalhaes nodded over from Rice's free kick - the teams would seemingly shake hands on a goalless draw.

However, there was time for a remarkable twist to tale in the fourth additional minute, as Martinelli cheaply gave possession away, and 20 yards out from goal, Galeno was allowed to get his strike away unchallenged and curled an exquisite strike into the far corner to spark Estadio do Dragao delirium.

Before bidding to turn the tie around in North London on March 12, Arsenal have Premier League matters to attend to against Newcastle United on Saturday, while Porto are away to Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga on Sunday. body check tags ::

amp_article__537231 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-02-23 20:17:22:
html db last update - 2024-02-21 21:59:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Newcastle, Aston Villa 'leading race for Emile Smith Rowe'
Liverpool reach agreement with Feyenoord over Arne Slot fee
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Saturday's Premier League predictions including Manchester United vs. Burnley

1

SP

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

2

TW

Saturday's Transfer Talk Update: Olise, Toney, Lunin

NEW

3

ST

Saturday's Major League Soccer predictions including New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami

4

SM

Chelsea 'join race for in-demand manager after Liverpool snub'

5

C'

Spurs to test Brentford resolve with £45m offer for in-demand star?

6

ST

Spurs 'well-placed to sign key Chelsea star this summer'

7

S'

Preview: Porto vs. Sporting Lisbon - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PP

"Everyone should back him" - Ten Hag insists Man Utd star needs support

9

&S

Preview: Spurs vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .