Arsenal faces an uphill battle to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years after succumbing to a stoppage-time winner from Porto in their last 16 first leg. Galeno, Porto’s winger, scored a remarkable long-range strike with virtually the last kick of the game, deciding a contest that lacked intensity for the preceding 93 minutes. This leaves Arsenal with a 1-0 aggregate deficit to overturn at the Emirates Stadium next month.
Game Recap:
Following a nervous opening five minutes, Arsenal asserted control over possession, yet Porto’s defensive organization and resilience thwarted their efforts. The Gunners encountered frustration, unable to find openings or even a remote chance, let alone a goal.
Remarkably, the first shot of the game occurred midway through the first half and favored Porto. Galeno, drifting into the box from the left flank, struck a half-volley against the post from close range. Despite the rebound falling to him, he narrowly missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
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Arsenal’s first attempt materialized 33 minutes in, with Leandro Trossard firing well over from the left side of the penalty area. Despite missed headers from William Saliba and Kai Havertz, Arsenal failed to register a shot on target by halftime, a trend that persisted until the final whistle.
In the second half, a corner provided Arsenal with a genuine chance as Trossard met a cross at the back post, only to blaze over. Porto had a significant opportunity in the 66th minute when Pepe outpaced Havertz on the right, delivering a cutback to Evanilson, but Declan Rice’s timely intervention deflected the shot wide.
While the second half initially displayed a positive tempo, it gradually waned before Galeno’s sensational winner sent the Estádio do Dragão into jubilation. Moments before, Gabriel had come close with a stoppage-time header for Arsenal. However, Porto capitalized on a world-class strike, as Galeno curled a remarkable effort into the far right top corner. The opportunity arose when the young Gunners naively surrendered possession while attempting to counter-attack in the dying moments of the game.