Schalke through on penalties

Schalke through on penalties

Schalke claimed their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after defeating Porto 4-1 on penalty kicks at the Dragao. Lisandro Lopez's 86th minute strike gave the home side a 1-0 victory on the night despite being reduced to ten men, but the heroics of Manuel Neuer in the Schalke goal sent the Germans through.

Neuer, who produced a world class performance to deny Porto time and time again, thwarted Bruno Alves and Lopez from the spot as Porto crashed out in heartbreaking fashion.

Lopez's late strike was enough to take the game into extra-time as Porto finally found a way past Neuer.

The visiting 'keeper had already pulled off two spectacular saves to deny Tarik Sektoui in normal time, but he could do little to stop Lopez's powerful effort which lifted the roof off the Dragao.

The German side, who led 1-0 from the first leg, had looked set to claim their place in the last eight of the competiton but they were undone just moments after seeing Porto go down to ten men.

Fucile was shown a straight red card by referee Howard Webb after a late challenge on Halil Altintorp.

However, the sending-off seemed to inspire the home side and once Lopez had levelled the tie on aggregate, Porto looked the more likely to seal their place in the last eight.

Ricardo Quaresma could have clinched the win for Porto in extra-time after bursting clear of the Schalke backline, only for Neuer once again to deny the home side.

It was left to the lottery of penalty kicks to decide the contest and Neuer once again stole show as the Germans progressed to the quarter-finals.

With the onus on Porto to attack following their defeat in Gelsenkirchen, the home side pushed forward in an effort to find the elusive opening goal.

But the Portuguese side were given a major let-off after referee Webb failed to send off goalkeeper Helton for deliberately handling outside his penalty area.

However, Fucile was not so lucky, he was dismissed for a poor challenge on Altintorp to leave Porto facing an uphill task.

But the red card appeared to inject some much needed urgency into the home side's play and Lopez's 86th minute strike took the contest into extra-time.

With neither team able find a decisive goal in the extra 30 minutes, penalty kicks ensued and Neuer's saves from Alves and Lopez proved crucial as Schalke claimed their place in the last eight.

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