The first goal between Liverpool and Porto at Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday was vital. If Porto scored it, game on; if Liverpool scored it, game over. What’ll be so frustrating for the Portuguese club is that through the match’s opening 25 minutes, the home side had 13 attempts. Porto absolutely bossed Liverpool right up until Sadio Mané had the ball in the back of the net in the 26th minute with the Reds' first shot of the evening.
That goal came after some thrilling end-to-end action that began with Handsome Hector Herrera blitzing through on Alisson’s goal. The Mexican international’s first touch was poetry, but Virgil van Dijk ate up the ground instantly and took it off the El Tri star with the exquisite nonchalance of an Old Master.
From there, Liverpool instantly broke the other way, ending with Mané’s goal that was only given after the VAR rectified the linesman’s mistake. It could’ve so easily been the exact same situation at the other end if not for Van Dijk.
¡¡EL VAR CONFIRMA EL GOOOLLLL DE MANÉ!!#LaChampionsUD: @FCPorto 0-1 @LFC (0-3)
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) April 17, 2019
The Dutch defender was at his best throughout the match, winning 100 percent of his aerial duels and 100 percent of his tackles while making nine clearances.
He then scored Liverpool’s fourth and final goal of the night after Mané flicked on a corner for him. Liverpool won 4-1, 6-1 on aggregate.
¡OTROOOOO GOOOOOOOOL! #LaChampionsUD: @FCPorto 1-4 @LFC (1-6)
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) April 17, 2019
Liverpool’s defense is miserly. And look who’s coming to town in the semifinals — it’s Lionel Messi and former Liverpool boys Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.
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