Futebol Clube do Porto

Dragões win in shocking conclusion

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:00:02 +0000

The Dragões defeated Nacional da Madeira at Estádio da Madeira 4-2 with two late goals deciding the deadlock. With the victory and in conjunction with Benfica’s 2-0 loss to Trofense, Porto is now holds first place in the table with twenty-seven points. Sporting who defeated Vitória de Setúbal 2-0 yesterday sits in the second, one point behind.

The Alvinegros took the lead fourteen minutes in with Edson’s drive from outside the box that took at highly opportunistic bounce.

It wasn’t till six minutes after the re-start that Hulk tied the match up for the Azuis e brancos as the ex-Tokyo Verdy man poached a close range rebound from Lucho González drive into the back of the net.

Cristian Rodríguez gave Porto its first lead of the day with sixteen minutes remaining with a stunning highlight clip gun

but the home side look to have rescued a point as Miguel Fidalgo found the leveler four minutes later as he headed a cross behind Helton and into the net.

However controversary was in store for the match as into added time Felipe Lopes Aliste was adjudged a hand ball in the area and the spot was pointed to. Argentine international Lucho González calmly stepped up and drove the ball in give Porto the 3-2 lead.

Hulk added his second of the night two minutes into added time with a brilliant left footed chip from inside the box.

Nacional da Madeira match preview

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:29:20 +0000

After the holiday break the Dragões get back to action against Nacional da Madeira at Estádio da Madeira. With the Alvinegros occupying five place and only only three points behind Porto Jesualdo Ferreira’s side are in for a challenging encounter that will have a significant impact on their race for the top spot. Last season Porto was completely dominated by Nacional, losing 1-0 and 3-0 in the second to last week of the season. That, quite obviously has not went unmentioned by the manager and he has warned his forces of a difficult encounter.

For the match Jesualdo Ferreira has enlisted the following for the Azuis e brancos, including nineteen year-old striker Rabiola making his first appearance this campaign:

Nelson Benítez, Bruno Alves, Ernesto Farías, Fernando, Jorge Fucile, Freddy Guarín, Helton, Hulk, Lisandro López, Lucho Lucho González , Mariano González, Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Pelé, Rabiola, Raul Meireles, Cristian Rodríguez, Rolando and Milan Stepanov

I will report on the match as it concludes.

Porto loses costly points against Marítimo

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:52:58 +0000

Marítimo frustrated Porto with timely defending in route to a scorless draw at Estádio do Dragão. While the Dragões had a number of worthwhile scoring opportunities, each came up short and they had to settle for the single point. The draw is costly for Porto as they fall two points behind first place Benfica in the championship race. While the azuis e brancos dominated the flow of the match, starting from an early effort by Lucho González to Hulk’s in the later stages, they could not find a way past Marítimo ‘keeper Marcos. The Dragões head to the holiday break and return to face Nacional da Madeira in the first week of January.

Porto defeats Estrela da Amadora 4-2 in tight match

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:12:29 +0000

In a highly spirited match Lázaro Oliveira’s Estrela da Amadora fell 4-2 to Porto after fighting back twice to level the match. With the victory Porto draws leve with Leixões with twenty-three points, two points behind top of the table Benfica.

The Dragões took the lead ten minutes in as Lisandro López found the back of the net connecting with a soaring header.

Vítor Manuel Moreno drew the match level three minutes before the half hour mark with a peculiar goal off a extraordinary deflection that somehow found its way into the goal.

Cristian Rodriguez restored Porto’s lead before the break with a powerful header off Hulk’s corner.

Estrela da Amadora fought back and a minute past the hour mark Jose Vidigal found the equalizer as he flew in-close to head in a perfectly placed free-kick.

Three minutes after the hour ex-Tokyo Verdy man Hulk chipped a perfect goal from outside the area into the net.

With six minutes remaining Cristian Rodriguez struck a beautiful curling left-footed free-kick to the outside corner.

Porto returns to league action this Sunday against Marítimo at Estádio do Dragão.

Estrela da Amadora
Nélson; Hugo Gomes, Mustafá (Ndiaye 20′), Carreira «cap.» e Moreno; Celestino (Pedro Pereira 65′), Marcelo Goianiria, Fernando Alexandre e Vidigal; Silvestre Varela e Anselmo (Rui Varela 73′)

Porto:
Helton; Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves e Pedro Emanuel (Tomás Costa 90′); Fernando, Raul Meireles (Guarin 85′) e Lucho González; Lisandro Lopez, Hulk (Mariano Gonzalez 88′) and Cristian Rodríguez

Dragões visit Estrela da Amadora

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:23:06 +0000

Dragões visit Estrela da Amadora later today with a firm mandate of keeping up with top-of-the table Benfica, who are five points ahead of Porto. A victory today would catapult the Azuis e brancos above Sporting and draw level with Leixões.

Jesualdo Ferreira side is billowing with confidence on the avails of a six match winning streak including Champion League victories over Arsenal, Fenerbahçe and Ukraine powerhouse Dynamo Kyiv. Conversely Estrela da Amadora is in the midst of three match losing streak including last weeks 3-1 loss at home to Sporting. Their play has been far from inspiring this campaign as they have produced a paltry six strikes in ten matches and are in dire need to attacking impetus. While twelfth place Estrela da Amadora might seem like a easy walk for the Dragões they must remain focused and not lose sight of the victory.

Speaking before the match Jesualdo Ferreira echoed the importance of the match:

“This is a very important match and it would always be regardless our position in the table. Every match is important for us and we have to assure our maximum commitment and seriousness on each one. We regret the problems of E. Amadora, but they don’t affect our performance.”

Absent from the Taça de Portugal victory over Cinfães, Lisandro López, Cristian Rodríguez, Bruno Alves, Fernando, Jorge Fucile, Helton, Pedro Emanuel and Raul Meireles will all return to the squad list.

I will report on the match as it concludes.

Porto advances in Portuguese Cup

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:55:41 +0000

Beneficiaries of a highly advantageous draw, Porto defeated third-division Cinfães 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup / Taça de Portugal.

In front of their home fans, Cinfães put on a superb display and held Porto off the score-sheet until the seven minutes after the break with Ernesto Farías breaking the deadlock. However the story was not complete for Cinfães as with eighteen minutes remaining Sérgio Silva delivered the equalizer. In quick succession the Dragões grabbed the victory with strikes from Freddy Guarín with twelve and four minutes remaining, in addition to Candeias goal at the eighty second minute.

Porto: Nuno; Tengarrinha (Candeias 35′), Milan Stepanov, Rolando and Lino; Tomás Costa, Pelé and Freddy Guarín; Tarik Sektioui (Hulk 71′), Ernesto Farías (Rabiola 87′) and Mariano González

Cinfães: Miguel Matos; Nakata, Jonas, Kipulo and Luís; André Pinto (Serra 86′), Rogério and Rui Gonçalves; Mauro (Zé Pedro 85′), Sérgio Silva (Sidon 88′) and Miki

Porto wins Group G of Champions League

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:22:02 +0000

Jesualdo Ferreira’s Porto defeated Arsenal 2-0 in front of 37,000 plus supporters at Estádio do Dragão. As expected Arsène Wenger choose to use a less experienced lineup given both clubs has already advanced to the next stage of the Champions League and little was to be gained in this match. With the match lacking eye-popping intensity, marking was certainly less-than desirable. Finally after a lack real threats, Bruno Alves gave Porto the lead as he re-directed a Raul Meireles’ corner to the back of the net. With Arsenal more interested in deputizing teens Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs, Lisandro López doubled the margin nine minutes after the break as he broke free for a brilliant finish. With the 2-0 lead the match slowly wound down with little opportunities and Porto claimed the victory.

Porto:
Helton; Jorge Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves e Pedro Emanuel; Lucho González (Tomás Costa 78′), Fernando e Raul Meireles; Lisandro López, Hulk (Freddy Guarín 87′), Cristian Rodríguez (Mariano González 78′)

Arsenal
Almunia; Eboué, Gallas, Djourou e Silvestre; Ramsey (Jack Wilshere 59′), Denilson, Song (Randall 78′), Diaby (Gibbs 59′); Vela e Bendtner

Arsenal visits Estádio do Dragão in a run-out

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:26:14 +0000

With both clubs securely in the next round of the Champions League, Arsenal visit of Estádio do Dragão is expected to be more of a “run-out.” Jesualdo Ferreira has went to lengths to state that the Dragões will not be looking for revenge and you should safely assume this will have all the tension and intrigue of a friendly in early July. The Azuis e Brancos leader has said the following of the match:

“Tomorrow’s match only decides who stay at the top of the group and who is second seeded. The most important thing is that both teams are already qualified, although the match is of great responsibility for us. F.C. Porto is, alongside with Manchester United, the squad with most number of presences in the competition and our curriculum and culture obliges us to fight for the first place in the group.”

The following players are listed on the squad for the match.

Bruno Alves, Fernando, Fucile, Guarin, Helton, Hulk, Lino, Lisandro, Lucho, Mariano, Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Raul Meireles, Rodríguez, Rolando, Stepanov, Tarik Sektioui and Tomás Costa.

I will report on the match as it concludes but Dragões supporters should understand the intensity of this match is unlikely to be high.

Porto defeats Vitória de Setúbal 3-0

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Jesualdo Ferreira’s Porto defeated Vitória de Setúbal 3-0 with a flourish three goal display after the break. The victory moves the azuis e brancos to fourth place in the table, three behind top of the table Leixões.

The Dragões took the lead twenty minutes after the break as Bruno Alves made it 1-0, with a clean header off a corner.

Porto made it 2-0 after Hulk intercepted a pass and raced in before crossing to Freddy Guarín who put the ball into the net.

Lucho González finished the scoring with eleven minutes remaining as he volleyed Mariano González pass home.

Porto returns to action this Wednesday as Arsenal visits Estádio do Dragão in Champions League play.

Vitória de Setúbal
Pedro Alves; Janício, Anderson, Robson e Cissokho; Hugo (Elias 69′), Ricardo Chaves, Leandro Lima e Mateus; Bruno Gama (Leandro Branco 57′),Laionel (Leandro Carrijo 69′)

Porto
Helton; Jorge Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves e Lino; Fernando, Tomás Costa (Freddy Guarín 57′),Lucho González, Lisandro López, Hulk (Tarik Sektioui 82′), Cristian Rodríguez (Mariano González 68′)

a trip to beautiful Setúbal

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:22:32 +0000

Jesualdo Ferreira’s Dragões travel to picturesque Setúbal to face Vitória at Estádio do Bonfim. Daúto Faquirá’s side have been the model of consistency this campaign and are sitting mid-table at ninth with eleven points in ten matches. They are coming off a rousing 2-2 draw with Benfica as Anderson scored with a stunner at time wound down and will commit to a very balanced attack with few defensive liabilities.

The azuis e brancos need a victory today in this match to pull within three points top-of-the table Leixões. Cristian Săpunaru, Raul Meireles and Serbian international Milan Stepanov are recovering from injuries with the following squad listed for the match:

Nelson Benítez, Bolatti, Bruno Alves, Ernesto Farías, Fernando, Jorge Fucile, Freddy Guarín, Helton, Hulk, Lino, Lisandro López, Lucho González, Mariano González, Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Cristian Rodríguez, Rolando, Tarik Sektioui and Tomás Costa.

I will report on the match as it concludes.