Wednesday’s two Round of 16 games featured FC Porto hosting Roma with a 2-1 deficit on aggregate, and Manchester United traveling to Paris Saint-Germain in need of a clean sheet and at least two goals, with an aggregate score of 2-0 to the Ligue 1 side.
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester United
1-3 (3-3 agg)
VAR sealed the fate of the most intense game of the Final 16 so far as Marcus Rashford converted confidently from the spot in injury-time as Manchester United staged an incredible comeback, beating Paris Saint-Germain on away goals to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old forward, who was facing 41-year-old veteran Gianluigi Buffon, smashed home the VAR-awarded penalty in the 94th minute after Diogo Dalot‘s shot struck Presnel Kimpembe‘s arm.
Despite the odds being highly stacked against them, the night started off well for the visitors, who took an early lead through Romelu Lukaku after he took advantage of a rare PSG mistake.
The hosts went 3-1 ahead on aggregate when Kylian Mbappe fed a beautiful pass through to the unmarked Juan Bernat, who hit home at the back post.
PSG were unable to capitalize and were punished when Buffon spilled Rashford‘s long-range effort into the path of Lukaku, who got his and United’s second of the night.
The intensity of the game started to fade in its conclusion before Dalot fired the ball which hit Kimpembe. Referee Damir Skomina initially didn’t award the penalty, but the VAR team drew his attention to it and after a long delay, whilst he consulted his pitch-side monitor, the penalty was awarded and Rashford became the hero of the game.
Manchester United became the first team in Champions League and European Cup History, at the 107th time of asking, to overcome a 2-0 or greater first-leg deficit.
Up Next:
Ligue 1
Nantes v PSG – Saturday, March 9th (Postponed – TBD)
Dijon v PSG – Tuesday, March 12th (4pm)
Premier League
Arsenal v Man United – Sunday, March 10th (12:30pm)
Champions League
PSG – Knocked Out
Man United – Quarter-finals draw will take place on Friday, March 15th
FC Porto v AS Roma
3-1 (4-3 agg)
VAR settled two games in one day. Alex Telles scored an extra-time penalty following a VAR review, sending Porto through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Alessandro Florenzi was penalized for pulling Fernando back when the ball was fired across the goal in the 116th minute and Telles converted cooly from the spot.
The hosts’ Moussa Marega sent the game to extra-time with 52nd minute goal from a Jesus Corona‘s curling cross.
Roma captain Daniel de Rossi had cancelled out Francisco Soares‘ opener for Porto with a 37th minute penalty.
It’s the first time the Portuguese Primeira Liga side have reached the quarter-finals since 2014/15.
Up Next:
Portuguese Primeira Liga
Feirense v Porto – Sunday, March 10th (4pm)
Serie A
Roma v Empoli – Monday, March 11th (3:30pm)
Champions League
Porto – Quarter-finals draw will take place on Friday, March 15th
Roma – Knocked Out
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
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