Chelsea Progresses To Champions League Semis After Porto Defeat
Chelsea progressed to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a 1-0 defeat by FC Porto courtesy of a stunning bicycle kick goal by Mehdi Taremi at the Estadio R. Sanchez Pizjuan, with the blues going through 2-1 on aggregate.
Porto kept five clean sheets in their six group games, and desperately needed another clean sheet to stay in with a chance, while Chelsea needed to finish the job they started in the first leg after beating Porto 2-0 away.
The visitors pressured Chelsea in the first half, but lacked quality in the final third as neither side registered a shot on target until the 66th minute, when Edouard Mendy did well to save and hold sub Taremi’s weak header.
Chelsea were well organised and professional as they kept Porto at arm’s length, until the last minute of stoppage time when Taremi produced an incredible, acrobatic overhead kick to give his side a glimmer of hope.
However, it was too little, too late, as the 1-0 result wasn’t enough for Porto as Chelsea progressed. Porto were resilient in the second leg, but Chelsea’s handwork and determination was on display as they managed to hold off the Portuguese side’s attack to go through.
Antonio Rudiger, N’Golo Kante and Politic were all outstanding in the tie with Porto and the blues will now play either Liverpool or Real Madrid (Agg: 1-3) in the semi-finals on April 27/28 and May 4/5.
ft. WE’RE THROUGH TO THE #UCL SEMI-FINALS! #CHEPOR pic.twitter.com/EmX9uf7377
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2021
“I was still nervous because a goal can change anything. Even if it’s a crazy goal, a deflection or a bicycle kick, it can happen all the time no matter how good your defence is,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said.
“I can imagine both games were not the greatest to watch on the television, but it’s very hard to play your best game against Porto.”
“Today was the day to hang in, to show all the effort and intensity and team spirit that is needed. I think we deserved a clean sheet again, and this was the key, because when you work hard, sweat a lot, use your body, you cannot be nervous,” he added.
Chelsea now play Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, before hosting Brighton in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Chidi Nwoke.
