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| Tuesday, 03 November 2009 23:06 |
Porto qualify for knockout stagesAPOEL 0-1 FC Porto They did it the hard way, but FC Porto have managed to make it out of the group stages of the Champions League and straight into the knockout rounds as the Portuguese champions edged APOEL 1-0.A late strike by Falcao ensured, not only their passage, but saved some embarrassment as the Dragoes struggled to find the elusive winning goal. Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira again shuffled his pack after Friday night’s draw with Belenenses, with Freddy Guarin again coming in for Fernando Belluschi in European competition, while Falcao and Cristian Rodriguez were restored to the side in place of Ernesto Farias and Mariano. On the whole, it was an evenly contested match, with APOEL starting well, first threatening the Porto goal when Nenad Mirosavljevic concluded a nice move by turning well just outside the area and getting a shot off which Helton managed to palm away. As has increasingly been the case of late, Hulk was the main source of attacking inspiration for Porto. The Brazilian whipped in a dangerous low cross that the Cypriots’ goalkeeper, Dionisios Chiotis, almost allowed to sneak inside his far post, before moments later racing onto an excellent Guarin through ball but failing to beat Chiotis, who made amends with a superb save. The home side ended the half with another decent attempt on goal, this time through Portuguese winger Helio Pinto, who headed wide from Jean Paulista’s cross. APOEL lost none of their energy after the break, and a bright start from the competition’s debutants was to develop into another closely-fought 45 minutes. Hulk influenceHulk continued to exert his influence on proceedings from the right side of Porto’s attack. The Dragons’ no.12 showed great desire to win possession and find Falcao in a great position inside the area, but Chiotis was again well-placed and made a good save to deny the Colombian striker.Perhaps sensing that his side had started to look the more dangerous team, Porto boss Ferreira threw on Farias in place of the largely ineffective Rodriguez with a little over twenty minutes to go. Meanwhile, his opposite number, Ivan Jovanovic, introduced Necatarios Alexandrou, and the tricky winger caused Porto problems down the left, picking out Mirosavljevic, whose weak shot was easy for Helton. Hulk had drifted over to the left following Farias’ arrival, and almost provided a goal for the substitute with a powerful run and drilled cross to the back post which the Argentine could not manage to direct between the posts. Now his team’s main inspiration, Hulk then hammered a dangerous long-range free-kick over the bar. Porto were finally rewarded for being the more progressive side in the closing stages when, six minutes from time, they snatched a crucial winner. Hulk skipped past a tired challenge and fed the ball into Farias, who slid the ball across to Falcao, and the summer recruit from River Plate did brilliantly to work it onto his right foot and fire into the bottom corner. Atletico Madrid’s failure to beat Chelsea in Group D’s other match, which finished 2-2 in Spain, means the Dragons have qualified for the knockout phase with two games to spare. Porto trail group leaders Chelsea by one point, with the English club still to come to Portugal, Ferreira’s men will feel they have every chance of yet topping the section. APOEL:Chiotis; Porsaitidis, Kontis, Broerse, Elia; Nuno Morais, Satisias; Jean Paulista, Hélio Pint, Charalambides; Mirosavljevic.Yellow cards: Charalambides (51), Elia (52), Pinto (74)
Helton; Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Álvaro Pereira; Guarín, Fernando, Raul Meireles; Hulk, Falcao e Rodriguez |
In my opinion, Porto is one of the most regular and top 20 teams around the world, as IFFHS rankings told us this week. Can wait the knockout stages!