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Porto cruise through … with extra time VAR penalty

VAR was also in action in Portugal, as Alex Telles scored Porto’s extra time penalty awarded via the video replay system to send Roma crashing out of the Champions League.

After cancelling out Roma’s 2-1 first-leg lead to take the tie beyond 90 minutes, Telles’ late strike, after a Video Assistant Referee review, earned them a 4-3 aggregate victory, and increased the pressure on the Italians’ manager Eusebio Di Francesco.

Reports had suggested he would be sacked if his team lost, and their elimination comes with them also three points off the top four in Serie A. After falling behind to Tiquinho Soares’ first-half strike, a penalty from Daniele De Rossi brought Roma level and left them on course for the final eight.

With Roma’s Kostas Manolas caught in possession, Moussa Marega sped down the left and rolled the ball across the area to Soares, who then routinely tapped in from two yards, with VAR confirming he had been narrowly onside.

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It was shortly after Edin Dzeko had gone close that the visitors won the 37th-minute penalty from which De Rossi equalised.

In extra-time, Dzeko wasted a succession of chances to score the goal that would likely have taken Roma through.

But then came the drama in the 117th minute as Alessandro Florenzi pulled back Telles. There were suspicions of offside around the attacker but a VAR review ensured the penalty was awarded.

Telles took advantage to beat Olsen by firing into the bottom left corner, deepening Roma’s misery and sending Porto through.

– Sportinglife

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