Second-string Porto too strong for Aves

FC Porto 2-0 Desportivo das Aves

A virtual reserve side selected by Jesualdo Ferreira proved too strong for Liga Vitalis team Aves, as FC Porto won 2-0 to progress to the next round.

Only two players – Lucho Gonzalez and Adriano – were picked from the team that started Porto’s last Bwin Liga match against Braga.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the Dragons looked disjointed and uninspired for most of the game, with some notable exceptions.

Argentine striker Ernesto Farias did his chances of earning a regular place in the first team no harm with a dynamic performance capped with a richly deserved goal, Fucile looked back to his best and Mariano Gonzalez finally showed glimpses of what he could do with some impressive wing play.

After failing to create much in the way of clear-cut chances, the hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark when Farias timed his run into the box to perfection to send a rocket of a header into the roof of the net.

On 51 minutes Kazmierczak missed a good chance to double the lead, and as the clock ticked down Porto brought on the big guns in an attempt to prevent any unpleasant late surprise.

Lisandro Lopez and Quaresma entered the fray and immediately Porto looked a sharper and more dangerous attacking threat.

In stoppage time Quaresma shot low and hard into the corner of the net to kill off Aves and put Porto into Tuesday’s sixth-round draw.

FC Porto:
Nuno, Fucile, Joao Paulo, Stepanov, Lino, Bolatti, Lucho, Kazmierczak (Quaresma, 61), Adriano (Lisandro Lopez, 74), Farias, Mariano (Cech, 81)
Yellow Cards: Mariano, Quaresma

Aves:
Rafael, Grosso, Sergio Nunes, Miguel Vitor, Pedro Geraldo, Marcelo Henrique (Pascal, 46), Mercio, Leandro, Gouveia (Romeu, 75) , Castro (Robert, 46), Leandro Tatu
Yellow Cards: Sergio Nunes, Marcelo Henrique, Pedro Geraldo, Miguel Vitor

Goals:
[1-0] Farias, 31
[2-0] Quaresma, 90