Pepe puts on clinic as 10-man Porto send Juventus packing from Champions League

FC Porto’s 38 year old captain, Pepe was immense as his side played out a 3-2 result at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus’ home ground to qualify for the quarterfinals on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

The first leg ended 2-1 in Porto’s favour at the Estadio do Dragao. FC Porto took an unexpected lead through Sergio Oliveira from the penalty spot in the 19th minute to give them an early advantage. Italian youngster, Federico Chiesa pulled Juventus level just four minutes into the second half with a brilliant curling strike from inside the box following a Cristiano Ronaldo knockdown. Porto were reduced to ten men when Mehdi Taremi received two bookings in quick succession, the second for booting the ball away in frustration. Juventus scored a second goal through Chiesa again with a fine header in the 63rd minute to send the game into extra time. Porto’s ten men stood strong and found a goal in extra time after 115 minutes, Oliveira the hero once again as he scored direct from a freekick to leave Juventus needing two goals to qualify. Adrien Rabiot scored a header from a corner kick two minutes later to set up a nervy finale to the game as Porto repelled everything sent at them by Juventus to seal their place in the last 8 of the Champions League.

Pepe made 18 clearances and won the most aerial duels in the game as he kept a cool head to help his side achieve an unlikely victory in the Round of 16 tie. Nigerian defender, Zaidu Sanusi was also on parade for the Portuguese side for 71 minutes before being substituted for Luis Diaz.

This was the first time of FC Porto qualifying through a Champions League knockout game after winning the first leg since 2003/2004 when they won the trophy. Juventus have now been knocked out at the Round of 16 stage in successive seasons, first by Olympique Lyonnais and now by FC Porto.