Sanusi stars as Porto pick up first leg win over Juventus in Champions League

Portuguese champions, FC Porto hosted Italian giants, Juventus in the first leg Round of 16 clash at their Estadio do Dragao home and ran out with an important 2-1 win over the champions of Italy.

Inside the first two minutes, Juventus’ Uruguayan midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur committed the error that led to FC Porto going in front as he played a very short pass to the keeper even though he was being pressed by Porto striker, Mehdi Taremi, allowing Taremi to pounce on the loose pass and fire the ball home from inside the 6 yard box. Porto held on to their lead till the conclusion of the first half. When the second half commenced, it only took Porto 42 seconds to double their lead, as Wilson Manafa found Mali’s Moussa Marega inside the Juventus box and he was allowed far too much time to slot the ball past Juventus keeper, Wojciech Szczesny. Juventus eventually scored a priceless away goal through Federico Chiesa in the 82nd minute when he fired home a ball across the box from Federico Chiesa. Zaidu Sanusi, Porto’s Nigerian left back was one of their best players on the day, but almost gave away a late penalty after an entanglement with Cristiano Ronaldo, but the referee was having none of it. Porto held on for the win.

Chiesa’s away goal changes the entire dimension of the tie as Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus now have the advantage of an away goal when Porto visit them in Turin three weeks from now. Porto will be looking to complete the unlikely upset and qualify for the last 8 of the tournament.