MEHDI TAREMI scored an outrageous Puskas Award contender for Porto as they ultimately crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Chelsea.
Porto knew they needed a little European magic if they were to overturn the 2-0 goal deficit from their ‘home’ leg in Seville.
Back at the same stadium for the quarter-final second-leg, Chelsea stood firm, with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho particularly impressive in the defensive midfield positions.
But just as fans were giving up on some late drama, Iran star Taremi left jaws on the floor across the globe.
Nanu whipped in yet another hopeful cross into the Chelsea area itching to spark the game into life.
And just as the clock ticked over to 93 minutes – with just one minute of added still time to play – Taremi unleashed an audacious, unstoppable overhead kick into the top corner.
The forward – who became the first Iranian to score in a Champions League quarter-final – seemed to hang in the air as he showed off his unreal athleticism.
And as the ball flew towards, Taremi hammered a powerful strike into the top bins – up there with some other iconic Champions League overhead kicks, such as Gareth Bale vs Liverpool and Cristiano Ronaldo vs Juventus.
Bizarrely though, after the full-time whistle sounded, Chelsea chief Thomas Tuchel called the sensational effort ‘lucky’.
Reflecting on the late defeat, Tuchel said: “Until the lucky shot in the last minute we did not concede any chances.
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“We missed some counter-attacks and some touches in the final third to create a little more but we are a young team.”
But, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, ex-England and Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green was left in awe of the strike.
Green said: “This is one of the Champions League goals of the season.
“They have put so many crosses in and what an overhead kick.
“Sweet as you like into the top corner.
“Chelsea had defended so well but that is something out of nothing.”
Meanwhile, man of the moment Taremi claimed his side perhaps deserved more from the tie.
The Porto ace said: “We could have won by more if we had a little more luck.
“It was not bad, but for us it is not enough. We deserved to score one more goal but we had a great Champions League [campaign].”
The Blues, though, hung on to win the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
Chelsea will now face the winner of Real Madrid and Liverpool in the semi-final, with Los Blancos winning the first leg 3-1 in Spain.
The Reds host Real at Anfield at 8pm on Wednesday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
