Chelsea through to UEFA Champions League semis
Blues qualify for last four of Europe's elite club competition for first time in 7 years
Chelsea took on Portuguese giants, FC Porto in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Sevilla after winning the first leg 2-0. The Blues knew avoiding defeat would be enough for them to go through, but they lost to a last gasp wonder goal 1-0.
Chelsea put up a measured and professional performance in the game, controlling how FC Porto attacked them by pushing the Portuguese side out wide. They failed to really trouble the Chelsea defence and goalkeeper. A major highlight of the game was FC Porto’s tactical fouling, as Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic found himself on the receiving end of 11 fouls, the highest in the Champions League for years. Chelsea were eventually breached when Iranian striker, Mehdi Taremi scored a brilliant acrobatic effort in the 90th minute of the game to give FC Porto the lead, and ultimately guide them to inflict Chelsea’s first defeat in this season’s Champions League.
Thomas Tuchel has become the first Chelsea manager to reach a Champions League since Jose Mourinho in 2014, and Chelsea remain dark horses to go all the way and win the title. Chelsea will now face one of Real Madrid or Liverpool in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League this season.