Champions League: Chelsea in Cruise Control Despite Last-Gasp Goal

Chelsea 0-1 (2-1 on agg.) Porto

A Champions League clash which highlighted football’s inequality.

In fact, at times this contest was so predictable it was hard to believe it was a quarter-final of club football’s biggest competition.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel had told his players to focus on the present and they did just that without ever having to over exert themselves.

They are in the semi-finals where Real Madrid or Liverpool await.

 

Highlights of the game 

Tuchel made three changes from the side that earned the Blues their 2-0 ‘away’ victory in the first leg of the quarter-final last week, a victory which helped ensure the SBOTOP Champions League 2021 betting odds were emphatically in favour of the west Londoners.

N’Golo Kante returned to the starting line-up after making substitute appearances against Porto and Crystal Palace following a hamstring injury. Christian Pulisic also came into team, alongside centre-back Thiago Silva – presumably Tuchel thinking the veteran’s experience and hunger could play a crucial role in the latter stages of the competition.

His counterpart Sergio Conceicao decided on just the one change to his starting XI in Sevilla with Sergio Oliveira replacing Luis Diaz in midfield.

In truth, so devoid was the first half of Champions League 2021 highlights that it was only the second match in this season’s competition where neither side had mustered a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

While Porto enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, Chelsea were not overly stretched and with the Portuguese champions two goals in arrears, the onus was on them.

Jesus Corona had the best chance of the first half but, after getting ahead of full-back Ben Chilwell, he could only lash at the effort.

Into the second period and when the ball was flicked towards Corona in the box, he lifted it back into the middle for Mehdi Taremi but he was unable to generate enough pace on his header.

Had that gone in, it may have been an interesting final quarter, but any tension was never truly present.

Christian Pulisic produced Chelsea’s only shot on target in stoppage time and then, with the full-time whistle anticipated, a goal.

Yet not even when Porto netted a last-gasp goal from Taremi – a world class but inconsequential overhead kick – was there any doubt.

It proved to be virtually the last kick of the match but nowhere near enough to win the tie.

Cruise control for Chelsea in a performance of resoluteness and containment against inferior opposition. A much sterner test is to come in the last four.

 

Key statistics

Taremi’s strike (93.01) was the latest Chelsea have conceded in a Champions League game (excluding extra-time) since April 2005 against Bayern Munich, when Mehmet Scholl scored after 94.55.

Following victories in both legs over Atletico Madrid in the previous round, Tuchel became just the second Chelsea manager to win his first three Champions League knockout matches in charge – the previous one being Roberto Di Matteo, who took the Blues all the way to the trophy.

Chelsea’s record against Portuguese clubs is now won 11, drawn one, lost three.

Chelsea have never been eliminated from UEFA competition after recording an away first-leg win, winning 14 ties out of 14.

Since winning the Champions League in 2004, FC Porto have won only two of their seven games in the competition at the quarter-finals stage (drawn one, lost four). They have been eliminated four times out of four by Premier League sides.

This was Porto’s 24th Champions League campaign, fewer only than Real Madrid and Barcelona (both 25).

Porto’s record away to English clubs is won one, drawn three, lost 17.

 

Porto have won only two of their 21 Champions League knockout stage matches as the away side (drawn six, lost 13), with the other against Deportivo de La Coruna in the 2004 semi-finals.

 

What’s next?

The big games keep coming for Chelsea who now travel to Wembley to face Manchester City on Saturday teatime (April 17) in the FA Cup semi-final.

They then entertain Brighton in the Premier League three days later.

Porto go to Nacional in the Primeira Liga on Saturday night before entertaining Vitoria SC in midweek.

 

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