Juventus won the match but were knocked out at the 6 stage as last season after a 4-4 aggregate draw. That was despite playing with an extra man for much of the game after Porto’s Mehdi Taremi was sent off in the 54th minute.
Match Summery
Oliveira’s long-range free-kick deep into the second half of extra time went through the legs of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Juventus wall to make it 2-2 on the night and give Porto the lead over two legs.
Adrien Rabiot’s thumping header two minutes later gave the Italian champions hope, only for Porto goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin to produce a stunning save in the final moments to ensure the Portuguese champions advanced on away goals despite a 3-2 second leg Juventus win.
Porto had opened up a 3-1 aggregate lead through Oliveira’s 19th-minute penalty after Merih Demiral brought down Porto’s Mehdi Taremi.
But Juventus’ Federico Chiesa found the far corner from a tight angle in the 49th minute before Taremi was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
And Chiesa headed in a Juan Cuadrado cross after 63 minutes to level the tie on aggregate.
It looked like Juventus would capitalise on their man advantage but Porto defended superbly to take the match extra time where Oliveira’s decided the tie.
Juventus have now been knocked out on away goals at this stage for the second consecutive season.
For all their domestic dominance, Juve have won just two European Cups compared to Italian rivals AC Milan’s seven. They’ve lost five finals in the interim. Now, they’ve been eliminated in the last 16 for the second consecutive season.
Champions League glory is what the club craves, but Pirlo is adamant his journey as coach is just beginning.
“This season is only the beginning of this project. We have young players who are growing game after game. The young players have played with desire and self-denial. We cannot say anything to them, they have given their all.”
Pirlo’s side continued to press in extra time, but one free-kick, through the wall, from Oliveira condemned Juve to their fate, despite Adrien Rabiot scoring a third for the Italian side soon after.
The blow leaves Juve just Serie A glory to play for – and they trail leaders Inter Milan by 10 points.
“I’m not happy to have to work with full weeks without European games, I preferred to go on in the Champions League,” Pirlo added.
“To forget this elimination will take a few days but then we will have to look forward and try to move up the (Serie A) rankings. We are still in March.”
Now the Question is what will happen to Ronaldo and Pirlo?
Ronaldo and Pirlo facing uncertain futures after Juventus’ shock Champions League exit to Porto
Their failure to reach the quarter finals was remarkably similar to last season’s away goals exit to Lyon, with manager Maurizio Sarri sacked at the end of the campaign despite winning a ninth-straight Serie A title for Juve.
But Pirlo confidently said:
“I don’t know if Sarri was sacked for being eliminated from the Champions League,” Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia. “I am the Juventus manager at the moment and I will work for a larger project, which goes beyond this season.
Pirlo confidence after Juve defeat
Christino Ronaldo also facing criticism after losing the match and knocking out of UCL. People are asking Three years after signing ronaldo, juventus are further away from winning the champions league than ever. So what happens next?
People trolling CR7 on twitter this way:
Ronaldo Prepares to Take Penalty But Szczesny Reminds Him it is Porto’s
Juventus President When Ronaldo Talks of Extending His Contract
Despite all the facts and figures teams always try there best and there’s always next year.
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