Mehdi Taremi scores an extraordinary goal in the Champions League

The Porto striker delivered his stunning effort in the final moments of his side’s 1-0 win over Chelsea but it wasn’t enough to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

Moment of magic

Taremi, who was returning from injury, started the match on the bench but came on with 30 minutes to go with his team searching for goals.

His moment of magic will leave fans wondering what could have been if he had been fit enough to start both legs.

The Iran international started his career in his native country before moving to Qatari club Al-Gharafa.

He then arrived in Europe relatively unknown but with a determination to succeed. According to an interview given to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Taremi said he turned down a huge contract — worth $2.9 million (2.5 million euros) — in Qatar to make it in Portugal. He hasn’t looked back since.

He moved to Porto from rival Portuguese team Rio Ave in 2020 and is now a vital member of the team.

Iranians both in the country and abroad, ranging from current and former players, actors, athletes and even ministry officials displayed their pride after Taremi scored his goal on Tuesday.

And he’s not the only Iranian partial to an extraordinary overhead kick either.

After surviving the late scare, Chelsea progresses into the semifinal of the Champions League where it will face either Real Madrid or Liverpool.

Speaking after the match, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel incredibly called Taremi’s effort “lucky” and praised his team for its pragmatic performance in the second leg.

“We accepted what was needed, it was a tough, tough fight,” Tuchel told BT Sport after full time.

“Maybe on the television it was not so nice to watch but on the sidelines it was a very intense game, a very fast game.

“It was very hard to play against them to escape the pressure but with every minute we did it better and better.”