February 21
2024
on
22:57

Porto decided in extra time against Arsenal

For a long time it looked like the last 16 tie between Porto and Arsenal in the Champions League would likely end goalless, but four minutes into extra time, Porto winger Wenderson Galeno scored the winner in beautiful fashion.

Thus Portugal won 1-0 at home at the Estadio do Dragao.

The winning goal in extra time must have felt really good for Galeno, as after a poor start to the match, he had two great chances to put the home team ahead after 21 minutes.

The Brazilian miraculously managed to place the ball wide from meters out on both occasions.

Arsenal and Martin Ødegaard controlled most of the first half, and played a lot of set pieces. However, they had difficulty turning it into a big opportunity.

Therefore, the match ended goalless at the break.

The second half also had no fireworks.

Porto have shown themselves to be very stingy on their own turf recently, and had not conceded a goal in five games prior to tonight's match.

It was also clear on Wednesday that this Porto team will not be easy to play against.

Both teams had so-called “almost chances”, but struggled to create big chances.

Until Galeno took matters into his own hands and curled a shot into the far corner from 20 meters. At the same time, he sent the home fans to heaven.

– It was a perfectly executed football match by Porto against one of the best performing teams in Europe, said Norway national team manager Ståle Solbakken in the TV2 studio after the match.

Arsenal, who are through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since 2017, must win the second leg in London on March 12 to progress to the quarter-finals.

In the second Champions League match that night, it ended 1-1 between Napoli and Barcelona. Strikers Victor Osimhen and Robert Lewandowski contributed scores in the round of 16 final.

Leo Østigård sat on the bench throughout the match for Napoli.