logo
  • Home
  • National
  • Sylhet
    • Moulvibazar
    • Sunamganj
    • Habiganj
  • NRB News
  • UK News
  • International
  • Sports
  • Tourism
  • Entertainment
  • Business
    • Technology
    • Featured
    • Opinion
    • Health
    • Life Style
    • Photo Gallery
    • Sylhet Mirror Team
  • Home
  • National
  • International
  • UK News
  • NRB News
  • Sylhet
  • Sunamganj
  • Moulvibazar
  • Habiganj
  • Business
  • Featured
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Photo Gallery
  • Sports
  • SUST
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Sylhet Mirror Team
  • Contact us
  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Liverpool beats Porto again, returns to CL semifinals

Liverpool beats Porto again, returns to CL semifinals


Published: 18 April 2019, 1:57:54

Liverpool beats Porto again, returns to CL semifinals

Photo: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, third left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

Porto, Apr 18 : For the second year in a row, Porto had no answer to Liverpool’s attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

A year after the forwards scored all goals in a 5-0 rout of the Portuguese champions in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the trio combined again to lead Liverpool back to the semifinals of the European tournament.

They netted a goal each in a comfortable 4-1 win over Porto on Wednesday, with Virgil van Dijk also scoring as Liverpool advanced 6-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0 at home.

Liverpool, which lost in the final last season, will now face Barcelona, which eliminated Manchester United 4-0 on aggregate on Tuesday. Tottenham advanced on away goals despite a 4-3 loss at Manchester City in the other quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Mane had a hat trick at the Estadio do Dragao last season, with Salah and Firmino adding a goal each. The Senegalese player led the way again this time, opening the scoring with a 26th-minute goal that was confirmed by video review after being initially disallowed for offside.

Porto had started well and showed signs it might be able to reverse the first-leg deficit, but Liverpool took control after Mane’s goal and cruised to victory.

“We knew they wouldn’t be able to keep up the pressure of the first 30 minutes,” Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp said. “In the second half Porto’s energy levels dropped, so it was easier for us to control the game.”

Liverpool had barely gotten close to Iker Casillas’s goal when Salah picked up a pass inside the area and sent a low pass to Mane, who came sliding in behind the defenders near the far post to score his 14th goal in 21 Champions League appearances.

Mane looked offside at first, and few Liverpool players complained when the flag went up, but video review showed he was in legal position before making his run to the ball.

“I was thinking it was offside, to be honest,” Mane said. “I was surprised.”

The goal hurt Porto’s morale and the team struggled to keep pushing forward. The pace slowed significantly and Liverpool took advantage, with Salah finding the net from inside the area after a pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold on a quick counterattack in the 65th.

Firmino, who came off the bench after halftime, and Van Dijk added to the lead with late headers — in the 77th and 84th minutes, respectively. Porto’s lone goal came through a 69th-minute header by Militao, the defender who is joining Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Mane could have scored his second goal of the game in the 73rd but he missed an open net after dribbling past Casillas on a breakaway.

Porto, which eliminated Roma in the round of 16, had won all of its four home games in the Champions League this season, outscoring opponents 11-3.

It was playing in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014-15, and was trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since it won the tournament in 2004 under Jose Mourinho for its biggest triumph.

After eliminating the Portuguese champions last season, Liverpool eventually made it to the final and lost to Real Madrid.

Porto was boosted by the return of two key players who missed the first leg because of yellow-card suspensions: captain Hector Herrera and defender Pepe, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

“The result is unfair, but these things happen in football,” Pepe said. “We had a fantastic Champions League campaign.”

Klopp made a series of changes to the lineup from the first leg, revamping the midfield and using Firmino as a second-half substitute.

Sports
Saudi, Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs

Saudi, Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs

Messi fit as injuries weigh on Inter Miami before Club World Cup

Messi fit as injuries weigh on Inter Miami before Club World Cup

Liverpool finalizes record $157M deal to sign Florian Wirtz

Liverpool finalizes record $157M deal to sign Florian Wirtz

Chelsea eye statement return to elite with Club World Cup campaign in US

Chelsea eye statement return to elite with Club World Cup campaign in US

Latest News
King and Queen cheered by crowds at Trooping the Colour
King and Queen cheered by crowds at Trooping the Colour
Why do we dress like someone else when we go on holiday?
Why do we dress like someone else when we go on holiday?
I’m an NHS leader – but mum still suffered at hands of health service because she was black
I’m an NHS leader – but mum still suffered at hands of health service because she was black
Final Grenfell anniversary before tower comes down
Final Grenfell anniversary before tower comes down
Swades draws fresh attention over similarities with 1990s TV episode ‘Vapasi’
Swades draws fresh attention over similarities with 1990s TV episode ‘Vapasi’
China begins 1st human trial of invasive Brain-Computer Interface
China begins 1st human trial of invasive Brain-Computer Interface
Yunus-Tarique London meeting signals democratic momentum: Dudu
Yunus-Tarique London meeting signals democratic momentum: Dudu
National eye hospital resumes full services after 17-day
National eye hospital resumes full services after 17-day
Stone workers surround two advisers’ cars in Jaflong
Stone workers surround two advisers’ cars in Jaflong
Saudi, Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs
Saudi, Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs
Messi fit as injuries weigh on Inter Miami before Club World Cup
Messi fit as injuries weigh on Inter Miami before Club World Cup
Meta invests in Scale AI, valuing startup at over $29 billion; founder Alexandr Wang to join Meta
Meta invests in Scale AI, valuing startup at over $29 billion; founder Alexandr Wang to join Meta
No more stone quarries to open in Sylhet: Adviser Rizwana
No more stone quarries to open in Sylhet: Adviser Rizwana
Police not allowed to carry heavy lethal weapons: Home Adviser
Police not allowed to carry heavy lethal weapons: Home Adviser
Prof Yunus returns home after 4-day London visit
Prof Yunus returns home after 4-day London visit


© 2023 Sylhetmirror.com All Rights Reserved

Editor : Mohammed Abdul Karim (Goni)
Executive Editor : Enamul Haque Renu

Sylhet Mirror Team

Office: Unit 2, 60 Hanbury Street London E1 5JL Email : sylhetmirror@gmail.com

Developed by: Web Design & IT Company in Bangladesh

Go to top