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3 September 2007, by Joao Pedro

Porto brush aside Leiria

Uniao de Leiria 0-3 FC Porto

FC Porto kept up their perfect start to the Bwin Liga with a comfortable 3-0 victory away at Leiria, a ground they lost at last season. A first-half goal from the rejuvenated Sektioui and second-half strikes from Lisandro Lopez and Joao Paulo ensured the three points for the Dragons.

Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira was forced to make two changes due to injury, with Joao Paulo replacing Pedro Emanuel at the heart of the Porto defence and goalkeeper Nuno coming in for the Helton. Polish defender Lukasiewicz was given his debut for Leiria.

The Portuguese champions quickly imposed their superiority on proceedings and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Raul Meireles appeared to be tripped in the box early on.

On 36 minutes the Dragons took the lead when Quaresma’s cross found Tarik Sektioui, who brought the ball down neatly on his chest before cracking a shot past Fernando to give his side the lead.

Porto almost doubled their lead before the break when a well-worked exchange between Quaresma and Raul Meireles set up Lisandro Lopez who hit a firm shot just wide.

The Argentine was not to be denied however, and four minutes after the break he was in the right place at the right time to head into the net, with the home players claiming, justifiably as shown by TV replays, that the ball had crossed the line before being crossed by Bruno Alves in the lead-up to the goal.

Leiria, visibly tired after their Uefa Cup exploits in Israel on Thursday, were unable to muster up a reply to Porto’s domination. On 53 minutes Raul Meireles was close to scoring but Fernando managed to divert his shot for a corner with his legs.

It came as not surprise when Joao Paulo made in 3-0 on 65 minutes, heading in a Quaresma cross to complete a straight-forward victory for the Dragons.

Porto have won their first three matches of the Bwin Liga season in games where they lost the corresponding fixtures last season. Ferreira’s team seem intent on making it a hat-trick of championship triumphs.

Uniao de Leiria:
Fernando, Eder Bonfim, Bruno Miguel, Eder Gaucho, Laranjeiro, Tiago, Faria (Tonito, 82), Lukasiewicz (Joao Paulo, 51), Sougou, Paulo Cesar, N’Gal (Cadu, 48)
Yellow Cards: Faria (67), Eder Gaucho (77), João Paulo (87)

FC Porto:
Nuno, Bosingwa, Joao Paulo, Bruno Alves, Fucile, Paulo Assunção (Leandro Lima, 70), Lucho Gonzalez, Raul Meireles, Tarik Sektioui (Mariano Gonzalez, 64), Lisandro Lopez (Edgar, 75), Quaresma
Yellow Cards: Tarik Sektioui (31), Quaresma (90)

Goals:
[0-1] Tarik Sektioui, 36
[0-2] Lisandro Lopez, 49
[0-3] Joao Paulo, 65