Brahimi hits stunning hat-trick as Porto crush BATE Borisov

Brahimi hits stunning hat-trick as Porto crush BATE Borisov

FC Porto 6-0 BATE Borisov

Porto may have had a Champions League to forget last season, but judging by the Dragons' performances in the competition this term they are intent on making up for it in 2014/15.

After dispatching Lille with the minimum of fuss in the play-off, Porto started their group campaign with a crushing 6-0 win over Belarus outfit BATE Borisov.

Brahimi was the star of the show, scoring a magnificent hat-trick. with Jackson Martínez, Adrián and Aboubakar also finding the net.

Porto's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui selected an attacking team, with Adrián given a rare start to support striker Jackson, and Quaresma back in the initial line-up. And the hosts got off to the perfect start as a poor throw out by Bate goalkeeper Chernik in the 5th minute was pounced on by Brahimi. The Algerian still has plenty to do, but a neat body swerve saw him speed past his marker before lashing a left-footed effort into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.

Bate recovered from the setback and for brief minutes it appeared the visitors were ready to make a fight of it. Only an alert save by Fabiano, the Porto goalkeeper rushing off his line to smother Gordeichuk's effort, kept the Dragons in front. However, Porto soon reassumed control, with Jackson turning an inviting Danilo cross onto the post.

Brahimi wonder goal

Shortly after the half hour mark the home fans were on their feet applauding another Brahimi goal - and what a goal! The midfielder picked up the ball inside his own half, sprinted directly towards the box, brushing aside a couple of (admittedly feeble) challenges, before firing unerringly into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Two soon became three as Jackson headed past the hapless Chernik, and as the teams walked off for the interval under the constant rain the only question was how many goals Porto would score.

If Porto's domination had been almost complete in the opening 45 minutes, it was absolute after the break, with the game resembling a training exercise rather than a Champions League match.

Brahimi completed his hat-trick with another fine strike, firing a free-kick over the wall and into the net for a carbon copy of his goal against Lille. Shortly afterwards Lopetegui took off the Algerian, who has clearly made himself Porto's star signing this summer, and he trotted towards the substitutes' bench under a standing ovation from the Estádio do Dragão crowd.

Adrián López and Aboubakar added further goals - both players scoring for Porto for the first time - with fine finishes, but it is no exaggeration to say Porto could have reached double figures, so abundant were the chances, with Jackson hitting the woodwork again.

Lopetegui: master of the understatement

Eagle-eyed observers could even spot the whiff of a smile briefly cross the demanding Lopetegui's face in the second half. "We are moderately satisfied," said the Porto coach in his post-match interview.

by Tom Kundert

FC Porto:
Fabiano, Danilo, Maicon, Martins Indi, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Herrera (68'), Brahimi (59'), Quaresma, Jackson Martínez (64'), Adrián López
 
BATE Borisov:
Chernik, Khagush, Polyakov, Filipenko, Mladenovic, Likhtarovic (53'), Olekhnovich (63'), Volodko, Gordeychuk, Rodionov, Aleksievich
 
Goals:
[1-0] Brahimi, 5'
[2-0] Brahimi, 32'
[3-0] Jackson, 37'
[4-0] Brahimi, 57'
[5-0] Adrián López, 61'
[6-0] Aboubakar, 76'