PORTO, Portugal (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid snatched a spot within the Champions League final 16 by using their luck to win 3-1 at Porto on Tuesday in a tense, ill-tempered recreation as either side completed with 10 males.
Antoine Griezmann put Atletico in entrance towards the run of play within the 56th minute, bundling the ball into the web following a nook after the hosts had missed a glut of clear possibilities both facet of the break.
Atletico’s lead was threatened when Yannick Carrasco was despatched off within the 67th minute for elevating his palms to Otavio as tempers raged following a foul.
However, Porto’s numerical benefit lasted only some moments as Wendell was dismissed for showing to flippantly strike Matheus Cunha with his elbow, sparking a melee involving the gamers and training workers.
Diego Simeone’s group noticed out the sport in typical vogue, ceding Porto the ball however closing down the areas, and substitute Angel Correa clinched the win with a medical end on the counter-attack within the ninetieth minute.
Rodrigo de Paul then added a 3rd purpose 60 seconds later as Porto ran out of power and hope.
The residence facet earned a comfort penalty which Sergio Oliveira transformed with the ultimate kick of the sport.
Atleti started the sport backside of Group B however ended it second on seven factors, with Porto coming third with 5 and qualifying for the Europa League.
“This match and this group stage marketing campaign sums up simply what Atleti is all about,” mentioned Griezmann.
“We are a real group and we want everybody to do their bit to get to the place we need to. We by no means cease believing.”
Liverpool completed prime with 18 factors after successful 2-1 at AC Milan, who got here backside with 4.
LONG ODDS
Atletico had the chances stacked towards them after shedding their earlier recreation at residence to Milan 1-0 and to progress they wanted not solely to win but in addition for Liverpool to do them a favour.
Atleti suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at residence to Real Mallorca in LaLiga at the weekend and had been lacking their prime three central defenders in Jose Gimenez, Stefan Savic and Felipe, forcing midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and proper again Sime Vrsaljko to play within the coronary heart of defence.
Things obtained off to an ominous begin when striker Luis Suarez was compelled off injured within the thirteenth minute however, as so usually in recent times, Atletico got here out preventing.
“We knew precisely what was at stake however we’re Atletico Madrid, we do issues the arduous means and it tastes significantly better like this,” mentioned defender Mario Hermoso.
Atleti created their first actual probability when Carrasco carved his means by way of the defence however Marcos Llorente fired his ricocheted cross towards the ft of goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Porto dominated the remainder of the primary half and Atletico keeper Jan Oblak produced an excellent save to disclaim Luis Diaz, whereas Llorente threw himself throughout purpose to stop Mehdi Taremi reaching the unfastened ball.
Taremi missed two clear possibilities early within the second half, blazing over the bar after which being denied by the ft of Oblak, earlier than Griezmann gave Atleti an unlikely lead with a scrappy purpose.
Porto barely recovered from the shock of going behind and substitute keeper Agustin Marchesin was despatched off from the stands as either side struggled to regulate their tempers.
“It’s been an unbelievable evening,” mentioned Oblak. “I’m positive many individuals did not imagine in us but it surely’s in matches like these the place we present what a group we actually are.”
(This story has been refiled to repair typo in first para)
(Reporting by Richard Martin; enhancing by Ken Ferris)
