Porto ousts 9-man Roma to reach Champions League group stage

Porto is heading to the Champions League, and Roma only has itself to blame for being bounced in the play-off stage, ensuring Serie A will have just two clubs in the competition for a third year running.

The Italian side held an edge on away goals after earning a 1-1 draw in last week's opening leg, but seemed hellbent on squandering that advantage on Tuesday; a combination of poor defending and even worse decision making allowed Porto to earn a 3-0 victory and qualify for the group stage of Europe's showpiece competition by virtue of a 4-1 aggregate triumph.

The defending came into question in the opening minutes, as defender Felipe, unmarked at the back post, opened the scoring with a simple header in the eighth minute.

That was the bad. Then came the ugly.

Daniele De Rossi was sent off in the 39th minute for a daft, dangerous tackle on Maxi Pereira, leaving Roma with a mountain to climb.

Manager Luciano Spalletti shuffled the deck, bringing Emerson Palmieri on to reinforce the side. The young Brazilian promptly proceeded to fail his bench boss, being showed a straight red card for an obscene studs-up tackle in the 50th minute.

Roma fought valiantly while down to nine men, but Porto - who looked ragged and nervous after the second red card - eventually took advantage of the massive pockets of space afforded to them.

Miguel Layun put the tie to bed in the 73rd minute after a questionable decision by Wojciech Szczesny, and Jesus Corona ensured Roma would be jeered off the pitch when he added a third just 120 seconds later, eviscerating Kostas Manolas in the process.

There was to be no heroics from Francesco Totti this time. The Roma icon could only watch on in despair from the sidelines.

(Courtesy: Premium Sport)

Porto will take its seat for Thursday's group stage draw, while Roma will be left to rue the recklessness that saw the capital-based club receive three red cards in the two-legged tie.