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'Ronaldo is finished': Savage reaction to 'insane' Champions League drama

andrew reid
Cristiano Ronaldo is seen here looking glum after Juventus' exit from the Champions League at the hands of Porto.
A poor game for Cristiano Ronaldo was highlighted by a huge blunder in the defensive wall for Juventus. Pic: Getty/Optus Sport

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of winning a sixth Champions League title this season have been crushed after a chaotic round of 16 defeat to FC Porto.

Despite winning the second leg 3-2 in Turin, the 4-4 aggregate result was not enough to see Juventus progress as Port booked their spot in the quarter-finals on away goals.

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Sergio Oliveira scored in extra time to send 10-man Porto into the quarter-finals despite the 3-2 defeat in Turin.

Porto, who played most of the second leg at a numerical disadvantage after Mehdi Taremi's inexplicable send off in the 54th-minute, progressed on away goals after the tie ended 4-4 on aggregate.

Oliveira thumped the decisive set piece under the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Wojciech Szczesny in the 115th minute.

Athough Adrien Rabiot replied immediately for Juventus, the visitors managed to withstand a late Juve barrage to seal their passage through to the last eight.

Porto took the lead in Turin from the penalty spot with Oliveira on target after 19 minutes, but Federico Chiesa scored twice in the second half to level the tie for Juve and send the match into extra time.

In a contest described as "insane" by many viewers on social media, Juan Cuadrado almost won it in regulation for Juventus when he struck a brilliant effort onto the bar deep into stoppage-time.

Porto somehow survived, however, and went on to secure their passage to the next phase of the knockout stages.

Juventus have now been knocked out on away goals at this stage for the second consecutive season.

Ronaldo was ineffective throughout despite laying the ball off for Chiesa's first goal.

The Portuguese star was also at fault for what turned out to be the decisive goal in extra time as Oliveira fired a low free kick past Szczęsny in the Juventus goal.

Ronaldo was part of a three-man wall that simply failed to do its job by protecting Szczęsny's goal.

Two players in the wall jumped, while Ronaldo turned his back and allowed the free kick to go through his legs and sneak into the bottom corner of the goal.

It was an inexcusable mistake from the home side who set up a grandstand finish when Adrian Rabiot headed home to make it 3-2 to Juve on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.

Juventus pushed for a late goal in time added but the 10-men of Porto hung on to seal their place in the quarter-finals, consigning the Italian giants to another disappointing exit.

The loss will no doubt see the pressure ramp up on under-fire coach Andrea Pirlo, whose side is effectively also out of the Serie A title race - trailing leaders Inter Milan by 10 points, albeit with a game in hand.

Fans turn on Ronaldo after shock exit

Following the defeat, however, much of the fan frustration was levelled at Ronaldo, whom the Italians signed on a huge deal to deliver another Champions League title.

At 36 years of age, many viewers insisted that his chances of helping Juventus to their third Champions League title appear to be over.

with agencies

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