Champions League: Galeno's late stunner gives Porto dramatic win over Arsenal

Porto (Portugal), Feb 22 (IANS) – In a stunning turn of events, Arsenal faced a 1-0 loss to Porto in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the UEFA Champions League. Galeno’s last-minute strike secured the win for the Portuguese team, keeping the Gunners from registering a shot on target for the first time this season.

Despite their recent strong performance, Arsenal struggled to create chances as Porto’s disciplined defending kept them at bay throughout the match. The first real scoring opportunity of the night came from Galeno, who struck the post and narrowly missed the rebound in the 21st minute.

Arsenal’s potent front line was stifled by Porto’s defensive tactics, and they failed to find an opening until centre-back William Saliba’s header went wide from Bukayo Saka’s corner in the 35th minute. The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Porto frustrating the Arsenal attack.

In a dramatic turn of events, Galeno redeemed himself for his earlier miss by scoring a superb long-range, right-footed goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, securing the win for Porto. With this result, Arsenal now faces an uphill battle in the second leg at Emirates Stadium.

Speaking about his goal, Galeno credited the entire team for their performance and expressed his determination to replicate their success in the upcoming match in London. The result leaves the tie finely balanced, setting the stage for an intense second leg in just under three weeks’ time.

“I think the credit for that goal goes to the whole team, for what they did in the 90 minutes. We played well, we defended well, we left all our energy on the pitch. Regarding the goal, when the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate. I am very happy. We will try to replicate in London what we achieved here. We will try to stay solid and give our best, as we always do,” Galeno said after the match.

The loss has put added pressure on Arsenal as they prepare for the second leg, hoping to overturn the deficit and secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.