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| Tuesday, 06 September 2011 23:26 |
Porto back on top of the pileUniao de Leiria 2-5 FC Porto FC Porto beat Uniao de Leiria 5-2 in Marinha Grande tonight to go back to the top of the table. Two goals each from James Rodriguez and Kleber (pictured), and a late Varela strike earned the Dragons three points, but they did not have it all their own way against Leiria, who twice threatened to mount a comeback through goals by Andre Almeida and Diego Gaucho.
Two of last season’s star performers, Alvaro Pereira and James Rodriguez, played their first game for the Portuguese champions this campaign. The former had been the subject of a late transfer bid by Chelsea, which was rejected, while James has been on international duty with Colombia. Hulk took his place in the starting XI, despite playing for Brazil against Ghana in London 24 hours earlier. But it was Leiria who made the early running. The hosts forced six corners to Porto’s none in the opening twenty-five minutes, with 20-year-old Cape Verdean forward Djaniny showing enough to suggest he could be a real find. Maykon and Shaffer came close as Leiria threatened to embarrass Porto, but a lethal counter-attack put the champions ahead in the 28th minute as James Rodriguez finished off Moutinho’s pass.
Kleber off the markLeiria’s enterprising attacking play contrasted sharply with some shoddy defending, and a bad Manuel Curto mistake let in Kleber to double Porto’s lead shortly afterwards – the young Brazilian’s first official goal for the Dragons.
Leiria were back in it five minutes after the break as Andre Almeida’s shot beat Helton with the aid of a deflection off Maicon. The game was then interrupted for 10 minutes due to floodlight failure, but when play resumed the Leiria defence continued playing as if still in the dark. Rodriguez and Kleber both found the net with ease as Porto cut through Leiria’s paper thin rearguard. James Rodriguez ended last season with a thrilling display and a hat-trick in the Portuguese Cup final, and another man-of-the-match performance tonight adds credence to the belief that he will be a major player for Porto in 2011/12.
To their credit the home team refused to lie down and Diego Gaucho’s header on 78 minutes cut the deficit to two goals. But there would be no heroics, as Silvestre Varela rounded off a fine team move to move Porto into top spot in the Liga ZON Sagres. The Blue and Whites are two points clear of Benfica and Braga after three wins in three matches, while Leiria remain rock bottom and pointless.
Goals:
[0-1] James Rodriguez, 28 [0-2] Kleber, 36 [1-2] Andre Almeida, 51 [1-3] James Rodriguez, 64 [1-4] Kleber, 74 [2-4] Diego Gaucho, 78 [2-5] Varela, 90
Comments (3)
RE: Voice of Reason?
3
Thursday, 08 September 2011 12:37
To prove your accusation would take to much of your time right? Keep crying, we'll keep winning :p
Corruption
2
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 23:53
Another corrupted win! Thank you Pinto da Costa!
The wins will come
1
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 11:34
I believe that the wins will start coming for Leiria. They just need to work on their defense, and the rest will come. They have promising players such as Shaffer, Andre Almeida, and Ruben Brigido who will help them in the long run.
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