Inter Milan held off Porto in a gritty 0-0 draw on Tuesday to succeed in the Champions League quarter-finals, with a 1-0 combination triumph. The Italian facet, three-time winners of this competitors, progressed to the final eight for the primary time since 2011. For the primary time since 2006, each Inter and AC Milan have reached the quarter-finals. Clutching a one-goal benefit from Romelu Lukaku‘s final 16 first leg late winner, Inter set as much as frustrate on the Estadio do Dragao.

Porto had the higher of the sport however solely managed to check Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana on a couple of events and did not make the final eight for the third time of their final 5 makes an attempt.

Their best probabilities got here in stoppage time on the finish, when Mehdi Taremi and Marko Grujic each hit the woodwork and Marcano had an effort cleared off the road.

“There are so many emotions right now, after so many years we are proud of this achievement,” Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu stated.

“We made some mistakes but we did a great job, it was very difficult but I congratulate the team for the great job.”

Inter have confronted criticism for his or her home type however Calhanoglu stated this sport offered a morale enhance.

“Anything can happen in the Champions League — this match restores motivation for us,” he added.

“We did a great job, we didn’t score but we worked hard until the final whistle and we qualified.”

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, aiming to finish a foul run of type away from dwelling, began with Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez up entrance, with first-leg match-winner Romelu Lukaku on the bench.

Porto have a powerful current document towards Italian sides, knocking out Juventus and Roma lately, however the Portuguese champions couldn’t rating towards Inter in 180 minutes.

They have been unable to incorporate veteran centre-back Pepe, 40, within the squad, shorn of their captain on the final minute.

Porto have been additionally with out Otavio, despatched off on the San Siro, however Stephen Eustaquio stepped in for him and impressed.

Matheus Uribe lashed a vicious strike simply extensive of Inter’s aim early on, whereas Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa made strong saves from Dzeko and Nicolo Barella.

Sergio Conceicao’s facet have been within the ascendancy for a lot of the primary half and solely a positive sliding block by Federico Dimarco denied Evanilson.

The hosts might need taken the lead simply earlier than the break however Eustaquio couldn’t attain Brazilian winger Pepe’s tempting cross.

– Desperate Porto –

Grujic examined Andre Onana with a low drive as Porto’s urgency rose, whereas Galeno additionally pressured the Cameroon worldwide right into a save.

Inter misplaced Alessandro Bastoni to an obvious hamstring harm, however held on tightly to their slim first-leg benefit.

Milan Skriniar made his return from harm within the ultimate levels as Inzaghi’s facet knuckled down and denied Porto at each flip.

Porto’s first clear probability of the sport arrived deep in stoppage time, when Marcano’s effort was cleared off the road by Denzel Dumfries.

The Portuguese facet struck the woodwork twice in an agonising finale, with Onana pushing Taremi’s header onto the publish, earlier than Grujic nodded towards the crossbar.

“In the second half we were better, more possession and more opportunities — I still can’t believe the ball didn’t go in,” Grujic stated.

“The fans were supportive and it was good to see that they understood that we gave everything. We really wanted to win the game.

“The Dragao environment was spectacular and now we’re very disenchanted.”

Porto’s extensive man Pepe was despatched off for a second yellow card on the demise, with Inter surviving the late onslaught.

The Italians have solely received one sport on the highway in 2023 and Inzaghi is beneath stress, however development to the quarter-finals buys him extra respiratory room.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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