Sektioui shoots Porto into semi-finals

FC Porto 1-0 Gil Vicente

A fine Tarik Sektioui goal midway through the first half enabled Porto to safely negotiate their Portuguese Cup quarter-final tie against a spirited Gil Vicente.

A season-low crowd of just over 12,000 saw the Dragons line up with a much changed starting eleven, as Stepanov, Lino, Mariano, Kazmierczak and Helder Barbosa were given the chance to stake their claim for more first-team action.

It was Argentine Mariano Gonzalez, highly motivated following his goal on Saturday against Pacos de Ferreira, who looked the liveliest player for the hosts in the first half.

Indeed, Gonzalez did an excellent job of standing in for namesake Lucho Gonzalez, with some fine killer passes. Twice he put Tarik through on goal with well weighted throughballs.

From the first chance the Moroccan shot over the bar but when a second opportunity came his way Tarik finished stylishly from a tight angle.

Liga Vitalis side Gil Vicente refused to lie down however, and shots from Hermes and Maciel forced Nuno into two sharp saves before the break.

Lucho entered the fray after the interval and Porto began to dictate matters. Farias missed a glaring chance on 54 minute after another good pass from Mariano by blazing over the bar.

Goal machine Lisandro Lopez then came on as Jesualdo Ferreira attempted to kill the match. However, Gil held firm until the final whistle, although the visitors were largely inoffensive at the other end of the pitch.

FC Porto:
Nuno, Bosingwa, Joao Paulo, Stepanov, Lino, Mariano, Paulo Assuncao, Kazmierczak, Tarik (Lucho, 46), Farias (Adriano, 72), Helder Barbosa (Lisandro, 57)

Gil Vicente:
Paulo Jorge, Paulo Arantes, Pedro Ribeiro, Diego Gaucho, Joao Pedro, Filipe Fernandes, Joao Vilela (Bruno Filipe, 71), Zongo (Tiago Andre, 58), Luis Miguel (Luis Coentrao, 46), Hermes, Maciel
Yellow Card: Pedro Ribeiro

Goals:
[1-0] Tarik, 23