Porto dance to Argentine tango

FC Porto 3-0 Pacos de Ferreira

Porto continue to steamroller all before them on the domestic front as another powerful display brushed aside the challenge of Pacos de Ferreira.

The prolific goalscoring of Lisandro Lopez was again in evidence with the striker’s brace making it a remarkable 18 goals in 19 matches played by the forward in the Liga. Compatriot Mariano Gonzalez completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Jesualdo Ferreira rested star player Ricardo Quaresma as the team looked to bounce back from their disappointing Champions League defeat away to Schalke 04 in midweek. Tarik Sektioui came in for the Portugal international, while Jose Bosingwa also returned to action after missing the last two matches through injury.

Pacos de Ferreira were considerably weakened by five injuries and one suspended player, but the strugglers gave a good account of themselves in the opening half, with Roversio, Wesley and Cristiano all wasting good shooting opportunities, while a tremendous Edson shot brought a fine flying save from Porto goalkeeper Helton.

At the other end of the pitch a Tarik shot was saved by Pecanha, Farias hit a rasping shot on the turn that came crashing back off the bar and the same player then had the ball in the net but the effort was ruled out as Tarik had strayed offside in the build-up.

Lucho-Lisandro partnership

The hosts gradually wound up the pressure as the match went on and just before the break they were rewarded, with the deadly Lucho Gonzalez / Lisandro Lopez combination again working to perfection. The elegant midfielder lifted a pinpoint pass over the defence and into the path of Lisandro who poked the ball between Pecanha’s legs to open the scoring.

Buoyed by the goal, Porto turned on the style in the second half with swift interchanges between Gonzalez, Tarik, Farias and Lisandro causing havoc in the Pacos rearguard.

Lisandro was inches away from scoring his second when a smart turn and shot clanked the post in the 50th minute, but the Argentine hotshot was not to be denied. Two minutes later a wonderful move involving Tarik, Gonzalez, Farias and Lisandro, executed at speed and with each player requiring just a single touch, ended with Lopez smashing the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

Pacos somehow survived wave after wave of Porto attacks – Farias, Lisandro and Paulo Assuncao all coming close – until stoppage time when another perfect throughball from Lucho released substitute and namesake Mariano Gonzalez, and the winger advanced before hitting an unerring cross-shot into the corner of the net.

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa, Pedro Emanuel, Bruno Alves, Marek Cech, Raul Meireles (Mariano Gonzalez, 76), Paulo Assuncao, Lucho Gonzalez, Tarik Sektioui (Kazmierczak, 87), Ernesto Farias, Lisandro Lopez (Helder Barbosa, 79)

Pacos de Ferreira:
Pecanha, Mangualde, Roversio, Kiko, Ferreira, Filipe Anunciacao, Pedrinha (Dede, 53), Edson (Furtado, 66), Paulo Sousa, Cristiano, Wesley (Renato Queiros, 76)

Goals:
[1-0] Lisandro Lopez, 44
[2-0] Lisandro Lopez, 53
[3-0] Mariano Gonzalez, 44