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Sunday, 18 September 2011 20:15 |
Liga round-up: Feirense hold Porto
Dragons drop first points of the season
 Sunday's action in the Liga saw Porto drop their first points of the 2011/12 campaign with a surprise 0-0 draw at Feirense. It was a frustrating trip for Vitor Pereira's men, who also had James Rodriguez sent off in the dying moments. Maritimo and Setubal also notched up victories against Leiria and Beira-Mar respectively. Ben Shave rounds up the action.
Feirense 0-0 Porto
With both Alvaro Pereira and Hulk nursing injuries, Vitor Pereira made a number of changes, with Fucile moving over to left-back, and Cristian Rodriguez handed a start. Souza was also rested, with Pereira opting for an attacking midfield trio of Belluschi, Moutinho, and Guarin.
Both sides had decent openings early, from Guarin and Rabiola respectively. The former Porto youth player was first to a Stenio cross, but could only divert his close-range header narrowly wide. Feirense were arguably the better side in the opening half an hour, Quim Machado’s men employing targeted pressing whilst still maintaining a fairly deep defensive line.
 The flashpoint of the half came in the fifteenth minute, when Feirense were denied what seemed a clear penalty by referee Bruno Esteves. Diogo Cunha (pictured) darted into the area from the left wing, and struck Belluschi’s outstretched leg. It looked a clear foul, but instead of pointing to the spot, Esteves showed Cunha a yellow card for simulation.
Undeterred, Feirense continued to frustrate the champions, though Belluschi did waste a golden opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the interval, and the whistle sounded with plenty to ponder for Vitor Pereira. The Porto coach replaced Kleber with Silvestre Varela for the second half, as the game resumed a familiar pattern of pressure from the away side, and stubborn resistance (plus the odd threat on the counter) from Feirense.
As the game wore on, an opening goal for Porto seemed inevitable. Moutinho’s thunderous strike from outside the box was diverted onto the bar by the outstretched leg of Luciano, and Paulo Lopes was there to block Defour’s rebound effort. Vitor Pereira sent Defour, then Djalma into the fray, but still the Dragons failed to hit the target – both Varela and Rolando missed presentable chances late on. Ludovic almost won it for Feirense, scampering beyond two markers only to fire wide.
The game ended in controversial fashion. Former Porto youth player Rabiola pulled James Rodriguez back, and the Colombian’s reaction – to head straight for his opponent and deliver a dig to the stomach – earned him a straight red card, ruling him out of Friday’s O Clássico against Benfica. It compounded a frustrating evening for Porto, who dropped their first points of the season with only their third draw of 2011.
Wins for Maritimo, Setubal
 Elsewhere in the Liga, Maritimo continued their fine early season form with a 3-1 win over a listless Leiria in Marinha Grande. A brace from Baba highlighted an excellent outing for Pedro Martins’ men, who now sit 4th in the table after three wins on the bounce. Olberdam got the other for Maritimo, with Manuel Curto netting a late consolation for the home side.
Vitoria de Setubal rallied after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Porto and Braga with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Beira-Mar at the Bonfim. A goal from veteran centre-back Ricardo Silva was enough for Bruno Ribeiro’s men, who move up to 6th.
Round Five concludes with Benfica-Academica on Sunday (report to follow), Vitoria de Guimaraes-Braga at 19:15 on Monday, and Rio Ave-Sporting at 21:15 the same night.
Ben Shave
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Obviously Falcao has been a big loss, especially after this result and his performance at Atletico.
I get PdC taking the money, but it was too late in the transfer market to go out and get someone. II know people were asking for a quality buy, but I do think that Porto fans should be happy that they just didn't go out and grab anyone, and possibly waste the money. Kleber, in my opinion, still looks capable and will improve.
I think that bigger concern could be additional players wanting out come January, so they can cash in on last season. A. Pereira has already made it clear he wants out, and there could be others.
Vitor Pereira has a tough task ahead, and I haven't liked some his comments/statements after games. granted a win next weekend and all will be fine in Tripeiro land.
That being said, the bench is clearly weaker, and they could wear down.
Maritimo did what it was supposed to do, what SuperLiga teams have found it hard to do at times. They can really continue to add pressure to the teams above them in the coming weeks.
Good if not big win for Setubal.
Beira Mar continues to slide down the table.
Gil Vicente with teh big draw, especially since it came at the 89th minute.
Porto were unlucky to not get the win, i was happy with the chosen midfield they just did not play as well as they should have. I always believed Souza was not good enough to be a starting midfielder however Guarin did not capitalise on his exclusion from this game.
Since Falcao was sold i have always believed that Varela should be our starting striker and Kleber can come off the bench and be slowly brought into the squad when he improves because he is just not good enough right now.