RAYA SAVES THE DAY
Goalkeeper stops two penalties as Arsenal edge Porto to reach Champions League quarterfinals
London, England - David Raya was the hero as Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League quarterfinals after defeating Porto 4-2 on penalties. The tie remained deadlocked 1-1 on aggregate following a tense second leg.
Leandro Trossard, starting in place of the injured Gabriel Martinelli, brought Arsenal level on the stroke of halftime. The Belgian’s clinical finish found the bottom corner after a perfectly weighted pass from captain Martin Odegaard.
However, Arsenal’s hopes of a clearcut victory were dashed when a goal from Odegaard was controversially disallowed midway through the second half. With no further goals in regular time, the match went into extra time and eventually penalties.
In the shoot-out, Raya displayed nerves of steel, denying two Porto penalties.
The goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny Wendell and repeated the feat against Galeno, while the home side converted all four of their penalties.
Meanwhile, Arsenal converted all their spot-kicks to claim a historic victory and reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
It was also the first time a Champions League match has been decided by penalties since the 2016 final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners, boasting a league-leading eight-game winning streak (with 33 goals scored), lacked their usual fluidity against a disciplined Porto side.
The visitors frustrated Arsenal in the opening period, slowing down play with deliberate tactics, leading to a scrappy opening. Both sides had chances; Ben White headed over an early opportunity, while Porto’s Evanilson tested Raya with a pair of efforts. Pepe, making history as the oldest outfield player in Champions League history at 41, made a crucial intervention to deny Kai Havertz a chance.
Trossard’s equaliser finally settled the home crowd’s nerves. It came after a clever bit of play by Odegaard, who jinked past a defender and threaded a perfect low pass for the Belgian to finish expertly past Diogo Costa.
Porto, winless in England in 22 previous attempts, started the second half on the front foot, and
Leandro Trossard, starting in place of Gabriel Martinelli, brought Arsenal level on the stroke of halftime. The Belgian’s clinical finish found the bottom corner after a perfect pass from Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal struggled to establish control. The Gunners thought they had extended their lead when Odegaard chipped the ball into the net, but a foul by Havertz on Pepe in the build-up saw the goal chalked off.
A tense midfield battle ensued, with both sides creating half-chances. Substitute Gabriel Jesus nearly made an instant impact on his arrival, while Bukayo Saka unleashed a trademark curling shot that was saved by Costa.