Juventus were busily, and more like desperately, scrambling all over Porto in the second half and throughout extra time in their Champions League encounter but it was the Portuguese side who finally got that all-important away goal to knock out the Italian juggernauts.
In the aftermath, Cristiano Ronaldo – off-color by his usual high standards – has been heavily bamboozled by fans for literally turning his back in the wall for a crucial free-kick that knocked Juventus out of the Champions League in the second leg of the last-16 clash.
Although Juve were in the driving seat in the second half despite going 3-1 down on aggregate, when Federico Chiesa netted twice and Porto were reduced to ten men, and battered Porto for the remainder of the game all through to extra time, the Portuguese side managed to remain resolute and scored a crucial away goal from a free-kick in the 115th minute.
Ronaldo was in the wall as Sergio Oliveria smashed his shot hard and low but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner turned his back and failed to block the shot that went through his legs and found the back of the net.
Adrien Rabiot immediately fired back for Juventus, netting just two minutes later, but it wasn’t enough for Juventus who were knocked out of the competiton.
Fans lambasted Ronaldo on Twitter, with one saying:
“If a 13-year-old had turned his back in a wall like that he’d be getting slated. Shocking from Ronaldo.”
Another added:
“Ronaldo’s fault. Straight through his legs after he turned his back on the free-kick. Oh dear!”
And a third said:
“Ronaldo has literally turned his back on this game.”
Even Gary Lineker added his take, tweeting:
“Porto pinch it surely. We’ve finally found something Ronaldo can’t do: stand still in a wall. Blimey, Juve have scored again. 4-4 and Porto lead on away goals. Bonkers game.”