Porto score VAR penalty in extra time to send Roma out of Champions League

Porto converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review three minutes from the end of extra time to beat Roma 3-1 and reach the Champions Leaguequarter-finals.

Fernando went down as he tried to meet Maxi Pereira’s low shot across the face of the goal and after studying the pitchside monitor the referee judged his shirt had been tugged by Alessandro Florenzi.

Alex Telles converted from the spot to give Porto a 4-3 aggregate win and heap further pressure on the Roma manager, Eusebio Di Francesco, who even before the match was reported to be fighting to keep his job.

Porto set out needing to fight back from a 2-1 defeat in Rome and they attacked from the start, taking a deserved lead in the 26th minute when Moussa Marega rolled the ball across the box for Tiquinho Soares to tap in from close range.

That would have sent them through on the away goals rule but Romalevelled 11 minutes later after Diego Perotti was brought down by Eder Militao and Daniele De Rossi converted the penalty, sending Iker Casillas the wrong way following a stuttering run-up.

De Rossi limped off on the stroke of half-time with a muscle problem and Porto ended the half on top, with Hector Herrera forcing a fine save from Robin Olsen.

They started the second half in the same vein and retook the lead eight minutes after the interval when Marega volleyed in Jesús Corona’s cross from close range.

Roma had several chances to level and also had a penalty appeal turned down late in extra time, when the video review showed Marega had not fouled Patrik Schick.

(THE GUARDIAN)