Inter Milan reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in more than a decade after surviving a late barrage of pressure at Porto to escape with a 0-0 draw which took them through 1-0 on aggregate.
It was a disappointing night for the home fans at a sold-out Dragao stadium as the Portuguese champions tried in vain to wipe out the narrow deficit from the first leg in Italy.
A disciplined Inter side seemed content to hold onto their lead and did not face a serious threat until added time.
Porto struck the woodwork twice within 30 seconds before Pepe was sent off for a second yellow card as Inter joined city rivals AC Milan in the quarter-final draw.
Porto’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa embraces team-mate Fabio Cardoso
How Inter edged past Porto…
Inter Milan players celebrate after reaching the Champions league quarter-finals for the first time since 2011
In the end, Romelu Lukaku’s goal four minutes from the end of the first leg was enough to see Inter through to their first Champions League quarter-final since 2011.
Mehdi Taremi came within inches of forcing the tie to extra time when he rattled the crossbar in the closing stages.
Porto’s Toni Martinez reacts after a big chance goes begging
The Portuguese side were reduced to 10 men in the seventh minute of injury-time when winger Pepe was shown a second yellow card.
On-loan Chelsea striker Lukaku came on for Inter 20 minutes from time, replacing Edin Dzeko who had come closest to scoring for Simone Inzaghi’s side with a low effort that was saved by Diogo Costa.
Napoli could make it three Serie A clubs in the last eight on Wednesday, holding a 2-0 lead over Eintracht Frankfurt from the first leg.
