Impressive Porto bounce back to winning ways

FC Porto 2-0 Setubal

A goal five minutes into the match and another five minutes from full time saw FC Porto to a comfortable 2-0 win against Setubal.

Lisandro Lopez continued his hot goalscoring streak with the opener, and a spectacular Quaresma strike near the end ensured the leaders maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table.

The dominant performance will put the Dragons in good heart ahead of two challenging away matches this week. Jesualdo Ferreira’s side will attempt to book their place in the next round of the Champions League when they play Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, before travelling to Lisbon to do battle with second-placed Benfica next weekend.

Despite their difficult schedule Ferreira resisted the temptation to rest key players as a practically full-strength Porto team took to the pitch. Full-back Fucile, who was in World Cup action for Uruguay in midweek, was replaced by Cech and captain Pedro Emanuel came in for Stepanov in an otherwise unchanged team.

The hosts started strongly and after just five minutes, as has happened so often this season, Argentine compatriots Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez combined to devastating effect to fashion a fine goal.

Lucho showed great footwork as he tricked his way past three adversaries and slipped a clever ball to Lopez on the edge of the area, who had no difficulty in knocking the ball past Eduardo and into the net with his left foot.

Livewire Lopez

The electric Lopez again came close after twisting and turning in the box, but his shot lacked power. A below-par Setubal, unbeaten this season before the match, were non-existent as an attacking force and failed to call Helton into serious action throughout the 90 minutes.

The second half continued in the same vein, and Lucho was left holding his head in his hands after a slick move ended with him dribbling past goalkeeper Eduardo, only to shoot into the side-netting with an empty net gaping.

On 70 minutes Porto had a loud appeal for a penalty turned down as Lopez produced a superb turn and appeared to be hauled down by Robson.

Porto were constantly threatening the Setubal net with some excellent attacking football, with Lucho Gonzalez, Lopez and Quaresma playing leading roles, but another big crowd had to wait until the 85th minute for the second goal.

Ricardo Quaresma latched on to a bouncing ball 25 metres from goal and hit an unstoppable volley that arrowed into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Eduardo. Should the Dragons maintain this form it is difficult to see them relinquishing top spot and a third consecutive Portuguese title.

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa, Pedro Emanuel, Bruno Alves, Marek Cech, Lucho Gonzalez, Paulo Assuncao (Kazmierczak, 86), Raul Meireles (Farias, 86), Tarik Sektioui (Mariano Gonzalez, 63), Lisandro Lopez, Ricardo Quaresma
Yellow Cards: Bosingwa, Paulo Assuncao, Pedro Emanuel, Raul Meireles

Setubal:
Eduardo, Janicio, Auri, Robson, Adalto, Elias (Filipe Gonçalves, 79), Sandro, Ricardo Chaves, Paulinho (Edinho, 46), Claudio Pitbull, Matheus (Bruno Gama, 62)
Yellow Cards: Claudio Pitbull, Janicio, Adalto

Goals:
[1-0] Lisandro Lopez, 5
[2-0] Ricardo Quaresma, 85