16 September 2007, by Joao Pedro

FC Porto win top-of-the-table clash

FC Porto 1-0 Maritimo

Reigning champions FC Porto made themselves outright leaders of the Portuguese championship with victory over Maritimo at the Estadio do Dragao. Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute to defeat the islanders who, like their hosts, had won their first three matches of the season.

Porto thus made it four wins out of four in the league and will host Liverpool in their opening Champions League clash on Tuesday with confidence high.

The match saw the long-awaited debut of expensive Argentine forward Ernesto Farias as a second-half substitute, but Porto showed difficulty in throughout the 90 minutes in putting together incisive attacking moves. Although credit should be given to Maritimo for their excellent organisation, the Dragons will surely require a sharper cutting edge to open up the Liverpool defence on Tuesday.

Porto started well and within the first five minutes Lucho Gonzalez and Tarik Sektioui both had decent efforts on goal, with their shots going just the wrong side of the post.

Confident Maritimo

After the early scares Maritimo settled and showed why they have made such a good start to the season. A solid defence and technically gifted midfield enabled the visitors to hold their own against the home team, enjoying plenty of good ball possession.

The best chance of the first half fell to Tarik on 41 minutes, but after making room for himself in the box the Moroccan shot wide of Marcos’ net when he looked set to score.

On 56 minutes Maritimo almost took the lead when Kanu took advantage of a mix-up between Porto goalkeeper Nuno and Bruno Alves and was just unable to direct his effort into the net.

The miss proved costly as Porto immediately counter-attacked to devastating effect. Marek Cech expertly brought down a high ball on the left-hand edge of the box and crossed to the far post where Lisandro Lopez gleefully headed into the net.

Brilliant save

Maritimo almost pulled level five minutes later when Nuno produced an outstanding flying save to fingertip Marcinho’s powerful goalbound effort over the bar. Porto adopted a containment approach for the rest of the match, no doubt trying to save energy, and were almost made to pay as Kanu and Bruno both came close to netting an equaliser.

Striker Farias made a discreet debut and it was Porto’s other exciting summer signing, Brazilian Leandro Lima, who caught the eye with a brilliant piece of individual skill to beat three players before his firm shot was saved by Marcos.

Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira will be delighted with his side’s perfect start to their championship defence, and will now be striving to prepare his team for an equally strong start to their European campaign. Meanwhile his opposite number Lazaroni will be hoping Maritimo can keep up this performance level throughout the season, which could well see the Madeira club challenging for a European berth.

FC Porto:
Nuno, Bosingwa, Joao Paulo, Bruno Alves, Cech, Lucho, Paulo Assuncao (Bolatti, 90), Raul Meireles (Leandro Lima, 71), Tarik (Farias, 46), Lisandro, Quaresma
Yellow Cards: Joao Paulo, Quaresma

Maritimo:
Marcos, Briguel, Edigle, Antoine, Evaldo, Bruno, Olberdam, Marcinho (Bruno Fogaca, 77), Mossoro, Fabio Felicio (Eder, 88), Kanu
Yellow Cards: Olberdam, Fabio Felicio

Goals:
[1-0] Lisandro Lopez, 56