15 October 2006, by Marco Pereira

Rejuvenated Postiga fires Porto to comfortable victory

FC Porto 3-0 Maritimo

FC Porto reclaimed what they feel is their rightful place topping the table, as they notched a 3-0 victory against Madeira side, Maritimo.

The game saw Helder Postiga net a brace for the blue and white while Porto captain, Lucho Gonzalez, chipped in with a goal from the penalty spot after Postiga had been brought down in the box.

The Dragons were looking to turn around their current poor run which saw them lose to Arsenal and Braga in succession. The home team enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half hour of the game, but failed to produce a clear opportunity on goal.

All that changed in the 34th minute, with the help of some slack defending by Maritimo. Central defender Pepe was allowed to make a run down the left flank and pass to an unmarked Helder Postiga, who tucked the ball inside the near post to make it 1-0.

Porto tried to double their lead just before the break, but Maritimo defender Milton de O kept his team in the game with two consecutive interventions to deny Lisandro Lopez.

Maritimo pressure

After the break, Maritimo looked to turn the game on its head as they went in search of an equaliser. A bright start to the second half by the islanders forced Porto into a succession of missed passes, subsequently pushing the home team back in their own half of the field.

The visitors’ first good opportunity came in the 58th minute from a corner kick. The ball evaded everyone and looked like it was going into the Porto net, but Lucho Gonzalez cleared the danger.

Porto then marched upfield and had two opportunities in quick succession. Quaresma forced Maritimo goalkeeper Marcos to make a save that won Porto a corner, from which Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez saw his header just go wide of the net.

In the 61st minute Maritimo defender Gregory was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Helder Postiga inside the box. Porto were not complaining, and captain Lucho Gonzalez stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to double his team’s lead.

Maritimo did not throw in the towel, as Lipatin saw his header just miss the Porto net four minutes later. Quaresma then hit the woodwork with a speculative shot from a tight angle and Postiga sent a powerful shot whistling inches over the crossbar.

Postiga renaissance

In the 84th minute Porto sealed victory through Helder Postiga’s 4th goal of the season. Maritimo’s defence collapsed as Postiga and Anderson played a perfect one-two, leaving the striker wide open and he made no mistake. Porto’s no. 23 seems rejuvenated since being brought back into the team after Co Adriaanse’s departure.

Porto will now focus their efforts on Tuesday night when they host Hamburg in the Champions League.

FC Porto coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, was happy for his team and praised the attitude of his players: “I must stress that the players were fully focussed on what I had asked them to do. The players have to be congratulated because they overcame a difficult phase and turned it around.”

“Helder Postiga’s first goal was excellent, but we had two or three more opportunities to score in the first half. In the second half we did not start well and Maritimo started to advance more.”

“When Paulo Assuncao was brought on we controlled the game again and made it 2-0. We created more spaces and our task became easier. But let me make it clear that we are not completely satisfied because we know we can do better.”

Maritimo coach, Ulisses Morais, was upbeat despite the defeat: “Porto are, naturally, a better team, but the result does not mirror what happened. My players have to be congratulated because they gave their maximum. A 3-0 defeat is exaggerated for what happened on the pitch.”

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa (Ricardo Costa, 46), Pepe, Bruno Alves, Marek Cech, Raul Meireles (Bruno Moraes, 76), Lucho Gonzalez, Anderson, Quaresma, Helder Postiga, Lisandro Lopez (Paulo Assuncao, 60)
Yellow Cards: Lisandro Lopez (9), Buno Alves (76)

Maritimo:
Marcos, Ze Gomes, Gregory, Milton de O, Briguel (Kanu, 46), Fernando (Wenio, 46), Andre Barreto, Neca (Filipe Oliveira, 69), Marcinho, Evaldo, Lipatin
Yellow Cards: Andre Barreto (11), Fernando (14), Milton de O (36)

Goals:
[1-0] Helder Postiga, 34
[2-0] Lucho Gonzalez, 62 (pen)
[3-0] Helder Postiga, 84