Unstoppable Hulk puts Porto back on top
FC Porto 3-2 Braga
 Hulk scored twice and provided a perfect assist for Kleber as Porto beat Braga much more comfortably than the 3-2 scoreline suggests at the Estadio do Dragao tonight. Lima’s late brace made it more respectable for the Arsenalistas, but a Porto win was never in doubt.
What a difference a week makes. The Dragons seemed to be in some disarray after crashing to a big defeat at Academica seven days ago, but two victories in must-win games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga has steadied the ship. Should Vitor Pereira’s men beat Zenit at home in their next game, talk of a crisis will seem long gone.
Defour impresses
A bright opening from both sides hinted that we could be in for a repeat of the sensational five-goal thriller in the corresponding fixture last season, but Braga soon faded. Porto largely controlled matters in midfield, with Defour again justifying his starting berth with plenty of enterprising attacking play, and James Rodriguez also bouncing back to form.
Nevertheless, chances were few and far between in the opening half hour, and the best of them fell to Braga. Paulo Cesar failed to take advantage of a fine Alan cross and hit his effort wide.
On 37 minutes Porto took the lead with a fine team goal. Defour did well to swivel past two players and find James, whose pinpoint cross was headed into the net by Hulk. The ‘Incrivel’ almost doubled his tally shortly afterwards, but shot narrowly over the bar, and either side of half time Quim pulled off excellent saves from Rolando and James.
As Porto poured forward a second goal looked inevitable, but we had to wait until the 78th minute for it to arrive. It was worth the wait, as Hulk produced a sumptuous left-footer from outside the box that curled into the top corner of the net, leaving Quim helpless.
Watch Hulk’s spectacular second goal:
Hulk was not finished. A move that typified the skill, strength and acceleration of the Porto number 12 took him past the excellent Ewerton, and his accurate cross left Kleber with a simple finish.
Quickfire Lima double
Braga had carried little threat all match, so when Lima scored from the penalty spot in the 88th minute, after Hulk had fouled Salino, there was little celebration among Leonardo Jardim’s players or the large travelling support. Lima then gave Braga hope of an unlikely comeback when he took advantage of an excellent Nuno Gomes dummy to sweep a fine left-footed finish beyond Helton, but it was too late for the Minho outfit.
Porto go back up to joint leadership of the Liga ZON Sagres, while Braga remain in fifth place, eight points behind the top two.
FC Porto:
Helton, Maicon, Rolando, Otamendi, Alvaro Pereira, Fernando, Joao Moutinho, Defour (Souza, 64), Djalma (Christian Rodriguez, 64), Hulk, James (Kleber, 80)
Braga:
Quim, Salino, Douglao, Ewerton, Paulo Vinicius, Djamal (Nuno Gomes, 76), Hugo Viana, Fran Merida (Mossoro, 60), Alan, Lima, Paulo Cesar (Helder Barbosa, 70)
Goals:
[1-0] Hulk, 37
[2-0] Hulk, 78
[3-0] Kleber, 82
[3-1] Lima, 88 (pen)
[3-2] Lima, 92
Tom Kundert
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Ben
I agree with tripeiro, uk - football doesn't matter in Portugal on any day.
Football just didn't seem to matter yesterday. RIP.
Also Defour showed up well tonight
os dragões para sempre!!! OS CAMPEÕES!!