Open the top draw and snap this one in the “Insane consolation goal that will be forgotten, but would be Puska’s Award winner if they had any significance” folder. See video below for another post.
The entire football world was immersed in Champions League action on Tuesday night, eyes glued to the screen in hopes of witnessing something late, last minute drama between two of Europe’s giants.
Fortunately, their prayers were answered – although the injury-time goal unfortunately arrived in the game that no one (other than Chelsea and Porto fans) watched. So while Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain could not provide us with the heart-stopping final we longed for, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi really composed it against the Blues.
The Iranian striker scored one of the most incredible late goals you will ever see, but in the end it meant very little, as Porto still crashed out of the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a total defeat of 2-1.
But the strike was so special, in a game that (probably) lacked any real quality in the last third, that we have decided to honor it with the credit and fame it deserves.
When the clock ticked from the 93rd to the 94th minute, Porto knew that their hopes of pulling off another Champions League miracle had died down. Sergio Conceicao’s men still enjoyed the highest to beat Italian champions Juventus in Turin, but the next hurdle was a meter too high.
94 – Mehdi Taremi’s strike (93:01) was the last time Chelsea have conceded a Champions League match (excluding extra time) since April 2005 against Bayern Munich, when Mehmet Scholl scored after 94:55. Insignificant. pic.twitter.com/WShtH6jOSp
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 13, 2021
Tied to 0-0 in injury time and after losing at home by two goals, the Dragons had accepted their fate. Still, this was a team that had shown tremendous faith and courage in the last round, and they wanted to make Chelsea sweat to the last whistle.
Porto Nanu, a possible Nani rain, broke down on the right wing and whipped a deep post towards the heart of the penalty area. Taremi was pretty much the only goal in the box, although almost the football enemy Otavio wandered in shots to almost block this incredible masterpiece.
However, the winghead was rescued from the chopping block that was Taremi’s boot on this occasion. When the ball bounced away from the goal and reached the left side of the area and was level with the penalty area, there seemed to be little cause for concern for the Chelsea defense.
WHAT. A GOAL! ?
Mehdi Taremi who is so good !!! ? pic.twitter.com/a72wY4p7pN
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 13 April 2021
In fact, the Blues backline backed off from delivery, seemingly happy with their course and the limited options that Taremi presented. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the keeper made the save.
The 28-year-old decided that this was the moment to try the most daring and outrageous goal scorers in his career. After all, if he misses the ball and falls flat on his face, who will really remember it in the grand scheme of things?
With that logic, however, he did not expect this attempt to be so dizzying. Taremi saw a glance at the goal, a half glance at the ball that quickly darted towards him and left the ground. He jumped into orbit, hit a right boot at head height – much for fear of the ongoing Otavio – and met the ball on full.
His shot curled into the top corner, giving Edouard Mendy the lead as he successfully challenged the guests’ central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance.
? ⚪️ Mehdi Taremi ⚽️
? In your top 3 Champions League overhead kicks? #UCL pic.twitter.com/DhJwLeni0I
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 13 April 2021
Instead, the ball embedded softly in the upper corner and caressed the net with a satisfying rustling. The biggest injustice in this whole incident was Taremi’s professionalism. No one would have denied the freight forwarder a shirtless stacking during the celebration, or if he had taken a moment for a teammate to polish his boot in the throwback tradition.
Instead, Taremi simply stood up, turned around and jogged halfway, filled with false hopes that his team could potentially catch another goal at the last minute. Alas, that was not the case. But the Iranian’s incredible strike should not be forgotten or considered insignificant.
Taremi became the first Iranian to score in a quarter-final of the Champions League, and he marked the occasion in the best style.
