Meireles strikes to earn Porto victory

FC Porto 1-0 Naval

Without playing anything near their best, table-toppers FC Porto further extended their lead at the summit of the Bwin Liga with a 1-0 victory over Naval. Portugal international Raul Meireles scored in the second half to leave the champions nine points clear in first place at the halfway stage of the season.

It was especially fitting that Raul Meireles should score the winning goal on his 100th match in the Portuguese top flight.

In a tightly fought first half it was Naval who threatened first as Marcelinho collected a loose Bosingwa clearance and shot powerfully at goal but Helton produced a sharp stop.

With Naval defending tenaciously the Dragons were forced to try their luck from distance, with Quaresma, Paulo Assuncao and Lucho Gonzalez all firing in good efforts from outside the box, but the strikes either flew narrowly wide or were stopped by Naval goalkeeper Taborda.

Lisandro goes close

On 31 minutes a superb Quaresma cross was met by the onrushing Lisandro Lopez, but the Argentine’s outstretched foot knocked the ball just wide of the post. The second half was the same story with Porto dominating possession but finding it difficult to carve out clear-cut chances.

However, just before the hour mark the hard-working Lisandro robbed the ball from goalkeeper Taborda and knocked a pass to Paulo Assuncao. The Brazilian in turn touched the ball to Meireles who had the simplest of tasks to prod it into the empty net.

A lacklustre Porto then settled for trying to conserve the lead and were almost made to pay twice in the closing minutes.

First only a wonderful reaction save from Helton prevented a header from Naval substitute Elivelton from finding the net. With just five minutes remaining the visitors came even closer as a speculative cross-shot from Mario Sergio crashed back into play off the bar.

Although fully aware that they will have to improve if they want to repeat their fantastic first half of the season, the Portuguese champions will be delighted to have collected another three points as they march serenely towards another title triumph.

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Pedro Emanuel, Cech, Paulo Assuncao, Lucho Gonzalez, Raul Meireles (Mariano, 84), Tarik (Adriano, 60), Lisandro Lopez, Quaresma (Lino, 92)
Yellow Cards: Sektioui (51m)

Naval:
Taborda, Mario Sergio, Paulao, Diego, China, Delfim, Gilmar (Godemeche 46), Joao Ribeiro, Saulo (Marinho, 76), Davide, Marcelinho (Elivelton, 67)
Yellow Cards: Marcelinho (35), Delfim (80)

Goals:
[1-0] Raul Meireles, 59