2 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Impressive Porto overwhelm Hamburg

Hamburg 1-3 FC Porto

FC Porto produced an impressive team display to overpower Hamburg and boost their position in Group D of the Champions League.

A stunning strike from Lucho Gonzalez (pictured) set the tone for the Portuguese champions, who clinched the win with goals from Lisandro Lopez and Bruno Moraes.

"We have every chance of reaching the quarter-finals" - Ferreira

Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira made two changes from the side that beat Benfica at the weekend, with Bosingwa replacing Marek Cech at right-back, and Raul Meireles coming in for the injured Anderson in midfield.

The opening stages saw a tight but even affair, but as the game developed both sides were presented with good chances. Ricardo Quaresma, who was the dangerman throughout for the visitors, had already gone close once himself before he fed Helder Postiga, and the in-form striker brilliantly evaded Joris Mathijsen before shooting well over.

Hamburg, without a point going into the game, then created an excellent chance of their own. Cameroonian full-back Thimothee Atouba breezed past the challenge of Lisandro Lopez, and his cross was headed downwards by Daniel Ljuboja, but Helton managed to palm the ball away.

The away side continued to improve as the game developed, with Quaresma and the rampaging Bosingwa causing problems down the right hand side. Pepe headed over from a Quaresma free-kick, and the Brazilian defender went on to miss a number of presentable chances from set-pieces.

Gonzalez wonder goal

Ljuboja and left-back Juan Pablo Sorin failed to trouble Helton with good opportunities, before Porto captain Lucho Gonzalez gave his side the lead with a stunning strike shortly before half time. Quaresma’s cross was cleared by the Hamburg defence, and from all of 30 metres out the Argentine struck a sensational volley into the top corner for what will without doubt be a contender for goal of the competition.

Porto’s superiority grew as the second half got under way, and Postiga got in behind the Hamburg defence, only to snatch at his chance and fire straight at Hamburg goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein. Quaresma then broke down the left and delivered an excellent ball across the goalmouth, but Postiga was beaten to the ball by Mathijsen.

Dangerman Quaresma, who switched to the left wing after the break, soon set up his side’s second with some more first-class wing play. The 23-year-old again produced a quality cross from the left, and Lopez scored from close range for his fourth goal in as many games.

The goal appeared to finally spark the home side into life, however, and Hamburg responded by pulling a goal back immediately when van Der Vaart headed Piotr Trochowski cross past Helton. Just minutes later and the home side almost equalised when the ball fell to substitute Besart Berisha inside the area, but his shot cannoned off Helton’s right-hand post.

After a nervy spell, the Portuguese soon resumed their control of the game, and once again it was Quaresma causing the Germans problems. The winger turned his marker, Mehdi Mahdavkikia, inside out before dragging his finish wide of the far post.

The game was ultimately sealed with three minutes left on the clock, with weekend hero Bruno Moraes again the scorer. On as a substitute, Moraes was afforded time on the ball outside the box, and the striker hit an unstoppable left-footed drive into the bottom corner to seal the win for his side.

Porto are now level with Arsenal on seven points, behind leaders CSKA Moscow who have eight. Ferreira’s men travel to Moscow to play CSKA in three weeks time, before hosting Arsenal in what will be the deciding fixture on matchday six.

PortGOAL Man of the Match: Ricardo Quaresma
The winger kept up his impressive form in the competition by providing a great threat down both flanks during the game, and had a hand in his side’s first two goals.

Hamburg:
Kirschstein, Atouba (Berisha, 65), Sorin, Kompany (Klingbeil, 72), Mathijsen, Trochowski, Feilhaber, Mahdavikia, Ljuboja (Guerrero, 58), van Der Vaart, Sanogo
Yellow Cards: van Der Vaart (60)

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa, Fucile, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Assuncao, Raul Meireles (Cech, 90), Lucho Gonzalez, Quaresma, Postiga (Moraes, 70), Lopez (Jorginho, 81)
Yellow Cards: Meireles (64), Moraes (77)

Goals:
[0-1] Lucho Gonzalez, 44
[0-2] Lopez, 61
[1-2] van Der Vaart, 62
[1-3] Moraes, 87