Ruthless Porto batter Braga

FC Porto 4-0 Braga

FC Porto moved inexorably closer to completing their third successive Portuguese championship as they thrashed Braga and in doing so increased their lead at the top of the Bwin Liga to a massive eleven points.

A brace from Lisandro Lopez, further consolidating his position at the top of the goalscoring charts, and a goal apiece from Raul Meireles and Ernetso Farias swept the Dragons to a categorical 4-0 win.

This is a Porto side in the image of their coach, Jesualdo Ferreira. Far from flamboyant or expansive, the quiet efficiency with which the team goes about picking off opponent after opponent is testament to the intelligence and competence running throughout the whole squad.

Confidence is sky-high, and the quality of play consistently produced by the likes of Jose Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez suggests the Dragons have a real chance of carrying their domestic success onto a bigger stage this season, with several pundits already comparing the side to that of the great Mourinho years.

Miguelito blunder

What appeared a difficult task was made all the easier when new Braga signing Miguelito clumsily gave the ball away to Bosingwa early on, with the Portugal right-back needing no second invitation to speed towards the box and deliver the perfect cross for the onrushing Lisandro to knock into the net.

The second goal didn’t take long to arrive, with Lucho Gonzalez chipping a sublime pass into the path of Meireles who cleverly headed past Braga goalkeeper Paulo Santos from the penalty spot.

Having carved out a comfortable lead early in the match, Porto were happy to concede plenty of possession to Braga, knowing they could rely on their rock-solid defence (just five goals conceded all season) and at any moment the well-oiled Blue machine would construct more goalscoring opportunities.

Shortly after half time when another slick move set up Gonzalez on the edge of the box. The Argentine steadied himself, took aim and hit a low hard shot that came thudding back off the post.

Linz then came close to pulling a goal back for Braga after some neat individual play got him past Alves, but he touched the ball just wide.

Farias impact

With ten minutes remaining Porto brought on their most expensive summer signing, the 4m euro Argentine Ernesto Farias, who due to injury, poor form and a virtually watertight starting XI has hardly featured this season.

The striker could not possibly have made a better impression in the minutes afforded him. First he controlled a high ball on his chest and knocked the ball invitingly into the path of compatriot Lisandro, who duly fired a venomous low shot into the corner of the net.

Farias himself then put the cherry on the cake for Porto by hammering in the fourth goal in stoppage time to complete the perfect night for the hosts.

Ferreira was asked post-match if the championship was won. The typically low-key response was immediate: “I don’t feel FC Porto have won the title yet, but I feel FC Porto have good conditions to win it.”

FC Porto:
Helton, Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Pedro Emanuel, Marek Cech, Paulo Assuncao (Bolatti, 85), Raul Meireles, Lucho Gonzalez, Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro Lopez (Mariano Gonzalez, 83), Adriano (Ernesto Farias, 81)
Yellow Cards: Paulo Assuncao (20)

Braga:
Paulo Santos, Joao Pereira, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez, Carlos Fernandes (Cesar Peixoto, 30), Roberto Brum, Miguelito, Jorginho (Joao Tomas, 77), Vandinho, Wender, Linz (Jailson, 65)
Yellow Cards: Roberto Brum (75), Vandinho (94)

Goals:
[1-0] Lisandro Lopez, 5
[2-0] Raul Meireles, 18
[3-0] Lisandro Lopez, 82
[4-0] Ernesto Farias, 91