Porto 0-1 Manchester United (Ronaldo 6′) – Man Utd win 3-2 on aggregate.

Kickoff: 19:45 GMT, 14:45 EST

Manchester United overcame a shaky first leg and prevailed at the Estadio do Dragao to eliminate Porto and advance to the Semifinals! Soccerlens brought you the action live! Click below for the liveblog and feel free to leave comment below!

Match Preview:

When the Quarterfinal draw was announced, most pundits believed that Manchester United got the best draw out of any team when they avoided their English rivals, as well as Barcelona, and drew lightly-regarded Porto.

With the first leg at Old Trafford, most pundits believed that United would win comfortably, thereby rendering the second leg moot. With his team facing a big F.A. Cup Semifinal match five days after the second leg, as well as a tightening Premiership race, most pundits believed that Sir Alex Ferguson was going to use the second leg as a way to rest his key players, and maybe get a look at some of his future stars.

Most pundits were wrong.

Porto attacked Manchester United from the beginning of their match last week and exposed some huge deficiencies in United’s defense. If that weren’t enough, United seemed determined to make their task as difficult as possible, giving the ball away in the worst possible areas and playing sloppy, uninspired football.

Perhaps they were still hungover from the aftermath of their emotional come-from-behind victory over Aston Villa, which took place a mere two days before the first leg against Porto. Perhaps they believed the hype from most pundits, who thought that United could sleepwalk to a comfortable victory against Porto.

In any event, they find themselves in the fight of their lives as they’ll have to do what no English team has done in 11 years, and that’s win at Porto. Manchester United were able to rest both Patrice Evra and Cristiano Ronaldo over the weekend, but once again looked shaky in defense, even though they managed to win at Sunderland.

They may have shown a preview of their gameplan for the Porto match by playing Berbatov, Rooney, and Tevez together. We have yet to see the three of them with Ronaldo for extended periods of time. That time may come during this match, since Sir Alex is going to need all the offense he can get. If they can’t deliver, then it will spell the end of United’s title defense, and Sir Alex will have to ruminate over yet another premature European exit during his tenure as manager.

As for Porto, they have shown what they’re capable of, and will probably stick to the same gameplan that they used at Old Trafford. Teams that have done well against United this season have been the ones that have attacked and played positive football from the very start of the match.

With United’s defense looking unsettled, Porto would be wise to ride their big guns, Cristian Rodriguez, Lisandro Lopez, and Hulk, as much as possible. With Porto’s strength on the counterattack, and Manchester United’s commitment to the attack, it could be an exciting, wide-open match.

Will Manchester United get the job done and advance to the Semifinals Or will Porto, once again, send them home early Tune in and find out!

Lineups:

Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Alves, Rolando, Cissokho, Fernando, Lucho (c), Meireles, Lisandro, Hulk, Rodriguez.

Subs: Nuno, Stepanov, Guarin, Mariano, Farias, Costa, Madrid.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Porto will run out the same squad that earned the draw at Old Trafford a week ago. Alves will start again, despite committing a terrible howler in the first leg. Fernando, the defensive midfielder will sit in front of the back-four, and if he plays like he did a week ago, then it could be over for United. Lisandro Lopez needs two goals to tie Leo Messi atop the standings for most goals in the Champions League.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs (c), Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov.

Subs: Foster, Neville, Nani, Scholes, Evans, Tevez, Macheda.

The big news is that Ferdinand has won his fitness battle and will return to the lineup for the first time since the loss to Fulham in the Premiership. He’ll replace Evans in the lineup. The other major changes from the side that drew with Porto a week ago will be in the midfield, where Scholes, Fletcher, and Park have been dropped in favor of Giggs, Anderson, and Rooney, who looks to start out on the left wing, much like he did in the Sunderland game. Berbatov will do the heavy lifting up front on his own, but he’ll have plenty of help from Ronaldo and Rooney. As expected, United’s good-luck charm, Macheda, is on the bench.

Minute-by-Minute:

90′ + 3 Rooney draws the foul, and you can bet United will take their time. No, they take it quickly, and Rooney loses it in the corner. Porto with one last chance as they launch a desperation cross into the box. Ferdinand is there to hit it away and that should be that. There’s the whistle and United have moved on! It was a tense and nervy match, but United did just enough to advance. It’ll be United v. Arsenal and, once again, three English teams have advanced to the Semifinals! Thanks to everyone who followed along! I’ll be here on the weekend for the F.A. Cup Semis! Until then!

90′ + 2 United play it short and try to waste time. Rooney gets it and he takes on Cissokho. He wins a throw for his troubles.

90′ + 1 Scholes draws the foul and Lisandro is very upset with the call. Nani tees up Ronaldo on the edge of the box, and he fires a shot to the near-post that Helton just manages to get a hand on. Great save because that was going in.

90′ Well, it’s the 90th minute. This is where United fell apart in 2004. Will it happen again Hulk seems to think so, and he tries a long-range shot that’s well off the mark. Three minutes will be added on.

89′ Costa with a dangerous cross from the right wing into the center of the box for Farias. He gets his head on it, but he flicks it behind him and away from danger.

88′ Poor clearance on the corner and Nani volleys it towards the goal. It’s off the mark, though, and Porto will have it.

87′ Giggs gets it in the same place as Nani, and he wins a corner for his troubles. See Nani That’s how it’s done! Giggs nearly finds Vidic, but it’s knocked back out to Giggs. He makes a nice cutback and tries to cross it to Rooney, but it’s out for another corner.

86′ Nani gets it deep down the left flank. He loses it, though, and that’ll be a goal-kick for Helton.

85′ Evra gambles on a tackle, and Mariano leaves him flat-footed. His cross is poor, though, and United knock it away. Mariano gets a second chance, but he sends in another poor cross. Mariano tries a third time, and he finds Lisandro inside the box. He flicks a shot on target, but Van der Sar holds onto it. That could have been their best chance.

84′ Costa sends in a cross, but Ferdinand is there to knock it away. Costa sends in another cross, this one is to Farias. Once again, Ferdinand is there.

83′ Rooney with a long-range shot that’s just over the crossbar.

81′ Scholes with the giveaway, and United’s defense looks spread thin. Hulk takes a shot from the edge of the box, but Rooney knocks it away for a corner. On the corner, Farias gets an overhead kick, but it’s nowhere near the goal.

80′ Ronaldo and Sepunaru fight over the ball, and Sepunaru does well to keep Ronaldo from getting it. That’ll be Sepunaru’s last act, as he’s off for Costa.

78′ Great pass from Alves to Cissokho, who has room down the left. O’Shea can’t get there in time and Cissokho unleashes a dangerous corner that Evra has to knock away for a corner. Anderson leaves and he’ll get a nice ovation from the crowd. Scholes is in for him. Meanwhile, on the corner, Meireles sends a corner to the far post and Van der Sar hesitates. He doesn’t get to it and Rolando gets a free header. It’s just over the crossbar, though, and United escape.

75′ Nani gives it away and Evra does well to close down Mariano and gives up a corner. Let’s see what Porto can do here. Mariano’s corner is to the near post for Alves, but his header is well off the mark.

74′ Hulk tries to cross it from deep down the left, but he loses it over the end-line. Goal-kick to Van der Sar.

73′ Evra gives it away again, and I’m starting to wonder what team he’s playing for.

72′ Giggs sends a great through-ball to Ronaldo, but he’s ruled offside.

70′ Cissokho with a dangerous cross from the left flank and Hulk is ready to pounce on it in front of goal. Vidic intervenes in time, though, and knocks it away.

69′ Good work by Ronaldo in the box and he sends it out to Rooney. He can’t get his shot off in time, and it’s blocked by Cissokho.

68′ Change for United as Berbatov will come off for Nani.

67′ Giggs’ corner goes out to Anderson. He gives it back to Giggs, but Giggs loses it over the touchline for a Porto throw.

66′ Rooney works on Cissokho and he wins a corner for his troubles. Nothing doing on the corner, but Rooney wins another corner for his side as he simply bangs it off Sepunaru.

63′ Porto make a change and it’ll be Rodriguez coming off for Farias. Meanwhile, Arsenal are up 2-0, and that should be enough to take them through.

62′ Berbatov throws Alves down as they fight for the ball. They have some words and Porto players are crowding the ref, no doubt asking for a booking.

61′ Rooney sends in a dangerous cross from the right flank to the far post where Giggs waits. Sepunaru knocks it out to concede the corner. Giggs’ corner brings Helton off his line, and he has trouble getting to it. Ultimately, he’s able to knock it back to Giggs, whose cross is knocked out for a United throw.

59′ Rodriguez tries a shot from long-range, but it’s well wide of the post. Meanwhile, Evra has been officially booked for the earlier foul.

58′ Porto will have a great chance on the edge of the box here. Hulk takes it, but it’s a disappointing one. Van der Sar makes the save and he doesn’t even have to move a muscle to do it.

57′ Giggs makes an ill-advised pass back to Van der Sar and his clearance gets blocked. It’s popped up in the box, and Evra and Mariano collide trying to get to it. Evra is called for the foul, and Porto will have a great free-kick opportunity. Evra is bleeding a little bit, but he looks okay.

56′ Giggs sends his corner into the center of the box for Ronaldo. He’s well marked, though, and Porto clear it away from danger.

55′ Meireles sends in a dangerous cross from the right flank to the far post where Mariano waits. He gets a head on it, but it lacks both pace and accuracy, and Van der Sar takes it easily. Rooney sends it to O’Shea down the right flank, and Cissokho concedes the corner.

54′ Giggs takes it and he sends it towards the far post. Helton is out and he collects it easily.

53′ Booming kick from Van der Sar and Ronaldo gets on the end of it. He starts his run towards the box, and he gets fouled by Cissokho. They’re about 35 yards out.

52′ Giggs sends a great pass into the center for Berbatov. He’s got room to run, but he can’t quite handle the pass. That could have been danger for Porto.

50′ Mariano gets it, but he slips as he tries to run into the box. Hulk then gets it and he tries a long-range shot, but he slips a little bit and his shot is well off target.

48′ Evra gives it away on the edge of the box and Meireles gets a chance. He sends a hard shot from the edge of the box, but it’s wide of the post. Evra has been terrible today.

46′ Porto kick off and we’re underway! It’s raining cats and dogs now, and I’m sure that will affect the quality of play on the pitch. Heck, you can probably bank on it, with the way players were slipping on the pitch in the first half. O’Shea casually shoves Cissokho off the ball, but no call. Meanwhile, quick United attack and Rooney sends it to Berbatov inside the box. He fires a shot, but it’s a comfortable save for Helton.

46′ By the way, I sold Ronaldo’s goal short. His distance has been officially measured at just under 40 yards. Ridiculous.

A much better effort from United have them on the verge of the Semifinals. Porto are still in this, though, and if anything, they showed just how dangerous they could be with a couple of near-misses in the first half. Rooney’s injury could loom large, especially if he has to come out at halftime. You can expect both sides to keep attacking, as United will want to get that second goal to put this one beyond doubt while Porto are now in the position of needing a score. Hopefully, that quality will make for an exciting second half.

45′ + 2 United with a final charge as O’Shea sends it to Rooney down the right. He tries to cross it to Giggs, who is in front of goal, but Helton cuts it out. There’s the whistle and we’re at halftime!

45′ + 2 Evra with another poor clearance and Lisandro gets a chance on the edge of the box. Carrick is with him, though, and Lisandro’s effort is a pretty tame one that Van der Sar easily takes.

45′ + 1 Is it in Ronaldo’s range He certainly thinks so. He goes for goal, but it’s a poor effort that’s easily blocked.

45′ Two minutes will be added on. Berbatov wins a free kick from about 40 yards out or so as Sepunaru is adjudged to have brought him down.

44′ Ronaldo is tackled by Rodriguez on the edge of the box, but no foul. It’s out for a corner instead. Giggs sends it in and O’Shea flicks it to a diving Vidic, who misses a point-blank chance in front of goal. He tried to use his foot and he probably would have been better off using his head there. Will that miss make a difference

43′ Poor effort from Meireles as he floats it into the box but he puts too much on it and it’s right into Van der Sar’s waiting arms.

42′ Vidic brings Rodriguez down on the edge of the box, and he’s booked.

41′ Meireles with a dangerous free kick from the left flank to the far post, and Alves gets a free header that’s just wide of the post. Van der Sar was easily beaten and he could only watch. Alves can’t believe he didn’t score there and United look like they dodged a bullet.

40′ Corner comes out to Carrick and he sends a shot from the edge of the box that strikes Vidic. Macheda would have scored there.