Lisandro and Porto march on

Maritimo 0-3 FC Porto

Porto’s absolute dominance of the 2007/08 Bwin Liga was further exemplified last night with yet another comfortable victory, this time away at Maritimo – a traditionally unhappy hunting ground for the Dragons.

Argentine duo Lisandro Lopez and Lucho Gonzalez were inevitably at the hub of another polished performance, the former scoring two goals and the latter dictating play throughout in the middle of the park. Tarik Sektioui scored for the second match running.

A bad-tempered opening half was memorable mainly for a melee caused by a feisty challenge between Lisandro and Mossoro. Curiously neither player was booked with Lucho Gonzalez and Djalma brandished with yellow cards for the subsequent pushing and shoving.

It appeared Porto would be made to struggle to earn all three points as the home team created a couple of half-chances, with Mossoro and Andre Pinto heading just wide.

Lethal Lisandro

But on the stroke of half time Lisandro was afforded a yard of space and the in-form striker needed no second invitation as he fired a fine low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

The goal settled Porto who completely dominated the second half, even more so after the sending off of Djalma on the hour mark for picking up his second yellow card.

Moroccan winger Tarik Sektioui doubled Porto’s lead on 68 minutes and Lisandro then finished off a beautifully worked counter-attack that involved Quaresma and Lucho to make it 3-0.

Lisandro and Tarik both had good chances to score again as Maritimo threw in the towel, and the dominant display will put the Portuguese champions in good heart ahead of their Champions League match against Schalke 04 on Tuesday.

Maritimo:
Marcos, Ricardo Esteves, Edigle, Van der Linden, Evaldo, Joao Luíz, Bruno, Marcinho, Djalma, Mossoro (Goncalo, 73), Andre Pinto (Kanu, 64)
Yellow Cards: Djalma (21 & 60), Andre Pinto (46)
Red Card: Djalma (60)

FC Porto:
Helton, Fucile (Joao Paulo, 70), Bruno Alves, Pedro Emanuel, Marech Cech, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Meireles (Kaz, 72), Lucho Gonzalez, Quaresma, Farias (Tarik Sektioui, 65), Lisandro Lopez
Yellow Cards: Lucho Gonzalez (21), Raul Meireles (44), Pedro Emanuel (80)

Goals:
[0-1] Lisandro Lopez, 45
[0-2] Tarik Sektioui, 68
[0-3] Lizando Lopez, 82