Porto held by ten-man Roma

A second half penalty from Andre Silva secured Porto a 1-1 draw with Roma in their Champions League playoff first leg, but gives the Italians the advantage going into the return tie in the Eternal City.

Despite going ahead through a Felipe own-goal, the Giallorossi made life difficult for themselves after Thomas Vermaelen was sent off after he received his second yellow card just before half-time.

Buoyed by the man advantage Porto laid siege to the Roma goal, but could only get past goalkeeper Alisson thanks to the spot kick.It was the Italian side who were more dangerous early on with Daniele De Rossi sending Mohamed Salah on his way, but his touch to lob Iker Casillas was headed clear.

The Porto goalkeeper had a tough opening period as he then spilled, what should have been a simple catch, right into the path of Edin Dzeko, but the Bosnian striker’s effort was cleared off the line by Alex Telles.Things kept going the Giallorossi’s way as a corner was diverted into his own net by Felipe on 21 minutes, giving Roma a vital away goal.Minutes later, Porto forced Alisson into a fine save from Andre Silva’s 18-yard strike.

A double opportunity then followed for Roma, first Salah latched onto a Alessandro Florenzi ball, but the Egyptian’s effort was punched away by Casillas into the path of Radja Nainggolan, but the Belgian was also denied by the Porto goalkeeper.As the first half wore on, the home team began to assert themselves on their opponents.

Octavio dribbled past Florenzi on the left, then cut past De Rossi, but his strike was wayward and wide.However, the tide of the game turned completely 41 minutes in as Vermaelen was given his marching orders. A late dangerous tackle on Andre Silva earned the Belgian his second yellow card.After the break, Porto thought they had themselves level.

But Adrian Lopez’s strike was correctly ruled out for offside, following referee Bjorn Kuipers’ lengthy discussion with his assistant.Porto kept the pressure on Roma and Andre Silva headed wide from close range before a shot-come-cross from Telles was tipped over the crossbar by Alisson.From the resulting corner a penalty was given against Emerson for handball, with Andre Silva stepping up to smash into roof of the net just after the hour.

Octavio made Alisson work once more, but as the game reached its end, Porto were finding it difficult to create meaningful chances against a resolute Roma backline.