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Brilliant FC Porto power to third consecutive Portuguese title

FC Porto hammered Estrela da Amadora 6-0 tonight to tie up their 23rd Portuguese championship triumph, completing the conquest of the league with five rounds still remaining – the earliest they have ever lifted the title.

FC Porto 6-0 Estrela da Amadora

In front of over 50,000 delirious fans – the highest turnout of the season at the Estadio do Dragao – the hosts gave the visitors no chance of ruining their party.

Lucho Gonzalez and Tarik Sektioui put Porto two goals up inside eleven minutes, and the Blue and White machine, as has so often been the case this season, simply steamrollered their opponents into submission.

Second-half goals from Quaresma, Bruno Alves and Lisandro Lopez and an own goal from Estrela captain Mauricio completed the rout and led to joyous celebrations well into the night, both inside and outside the stadium.

Such has been Porto’s domination this season, coach Jesualdo Ferreira’s one regret will be the failure to transpose their domestic superiority onto the international stage. The hugely frustrating Champions League exit at the hands of Schalke means this Porto team will always come off second best when making comparisons with its great predecessors.

Yet the outstanding Bruno Alves, Jose Bosingwa, Lucho Gonzalez, Ricardo Quaresma and Lisandro Lopez are certainly among Europe’s finest players, with the Argentine duo especially playing such consistently high-quality football it will frankly be a surprise if they remain in Portugal next season.

As one would expect, the coaching staff and players could hardly contain their delight as the end-of-match fireworks lit up the jubilations in the stands on a balmy Porto night:

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach:

“Tonight is just the start of the party because we are going to continue to play in the League with the same serious attitude we showed today. Above all we are proud of our attitude and competence.

“This news about a possible six-point penalty doesn’t worry us at all. We’re going to play another five games aiming for five victories and we also want to win two more matches in the Portuguese Cup.”

Ricardo Quaresma, Porto winger:

I think we deserve this party. We played a great game and above all a great championship. We are all proud to be champions again, that’s what we work for and we deserve this championship.

“This title feels better because we’ve beaten lots of records, we’re a great team and once again we’ve shown it, we’re champions and we should be congratulated.”

Paulo Assuncao, Porto midfielder:

“I’m really happy to have won this title. We are all to be congratulated and we all deserve this party. It was my best ever season on a personal level, but I’m never content – I always want to make myself a better player.”

Raul Meireles, Porto midfielder:

“We’re really happy with this party, which is well deserved after a long season. We’re going to enjoy tonight before getting back to serious work and concentrating on the Portuguese Cup to win another trophy.”

Lisandro Lopez, Porto striker:

“It’s a very special title, very special. I’m really happy to be in this party. We’re going to enjoy this party and afterwards we’ll think about the Portuguese Cup. Will I leave? Now’s not the time to talk about that. I’m very happy here.”

Tarik, Porto midfielder:

“We worked a lot, we were always humble, we were united and we deserve to be champions. We were stronger. Everyone deserves this party, not only the club FC Porto but also the city of Porto. We are all very happy.”

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa (Bolatti, 73), Pedro Emanuel, Bruno Alves, Fucile, Raul Meireles, Paulo Assuncao (Farias, 80), Lucho, Tarik (Mariano, 65), Lisandro, Quaresma
Yellow Cards: Pedro Emanuel, Raul Meireles

E. Amadora:
Nelson, Moreno (Wagnao, 14), Mauricio, Hugo Carreira, Helder Cabral, Marcelo Goianira, Tiago Gomes, Celestino (Nuno Viveiros, 70), Mateus (Marco Paulo, 73), Mendonca, Anselmo
Yellow Cards: Mauricio, Hugo Carreira

Goals:
[1-0] Lucho, 9
[2-0] Tarik, 11
[3-0] Quaresma, 65
[4-0] Mauricio, 71 (o.g.)
[5-0] Bruno Alves, 77
[6-0] Lisandro Lopez, 81