Roma 0-3 FC Porto (agg. 1-4)
FC Porto booked their place in the group stages of the 2016/17 Champions League after thoroughly outplaying an undisciplined Roma side in the Italian capital last night.
Goals from Felipe, Miguel Layún and Jesús Corona gave Porto a 3-0 victory on the night and 4-1 win on aggregate, as the Dragons join Benfica and Sporting in this year's competition.
Porto could not have landed a tougher draw in the playoff, and things looked bleak for the Portuguese side early in the first leg after being outplayed in the opening 25 minutes and falling a goal down at the Dragão. But André Silva's penalty gave Porto a draw to take to Italy, and the second leg was a different story.
Brazilian centre-back Felipe gave Porto the perfect start when he headed in Otávio's well delivered free kick, and Porto got a strong grip of the tie as Roma had two players sent off either side of the interval. Close to half time De Rossi was given his marching orders for a heavy challenge on Maxi Pereira - so heavy that the full-back had to be substituted.
Five minutes into the second half Emerson Palmieri was also red-carded for a disgraceful tackle on Corona.
Porto were able to take their foot off the pedal against nine men, and wait for the goals to naturally arrive. Layún made it 2-0 on 73 minutes, thanks to a bad misjudgement by Roma goalkeeper Szczesny who raced way out of his goal and allowed the Mexican to round him and slide the ball into the empty net.
Jesús Corona, who along with André Silva has been Porto's most impressive player this nascent season, completed the rout with a terrific third soon afterwards.
Porto complete their first objective of the season in fine fashion, and will go into Sunday's big match against Sporting at Alvalade in good heart.
by Tom Kundert