Wednesday 17 September 2008
Porto vs Fenerbahce 3-1 champions league 17 september 2008
Porto Crush the Turkey Giants...
FC Porto made an impressive start to UEFA Champions League Group G as goals from Lisandro López, Lucho González and substitute Lino secured victory at the expense of Fenerbahçe SK.
Fast start
The Portuguese champions had not won on Matchday 1 since 1999 yet were quickly out of the blocks against last season's quarter-finalists – leading 2-0 by the 13th minute thanks to strikes from Lisandro and Lucho. The stage looked set for a comfortable success but the Turkish league's most expensive player, €15m Daniel Güiza, revived the visitors just before the half-hour to herald an intriguing second period which only reached a climax when Lino added a clinching third goal in stoppage time.
Ominous
Despite Fenerbahçe's thrilling run in last term's competition, it was Porto who began as strong favourites having lost just one of their preceding 20 UEFA Champions League home games. Add the fact Fenerbahçe were winless in their last eight away ties and this was a gloomy prospect for the Istanbul side. Indeed, Luis Aragonés's team looked uncertain from the off and Lisandro almost profited from hesitant defending in the sixth minute, his shot being well held by Volkan Demirel.
Quick-fire double
Four minutes later Porto's early pressure paid off: Lisandro beat a static back line to poke Raul Meireles's pass beyond the exposed goalkeeper. Jesualdo Ferreira's men were rampant, and duly doubled their lead three minutes later when Cristián Rodríguez delivered a fine left-wing cross to the unmarked Lucho for a swerving volley that squirmed under the diving Volkan. Porto might even have made it three as Lucho's through ball caught the defence square again, only for Lisandro's first-time chip to drift too high.
Recovery
The latter player sent a powerful shot just wide as another goal appeared likely, yet when it did arrive – after 29 minutes – it was at the other end. With their first attack Fenerbahçe halved the deficit. Alex met Uğur Boral's left-wing centre with a powerful header and, although Porto keeper Helton made a fine save, the rebound fell perfectly for Güiza to fire in from a difficult angle. The Süper Lig outfit even threatened an equaliser as half-time approached, as Uğur Boral won a left-sided free-kick which Lugano just failed to touch in after it was curled dangerously over.
In the balance
It seemed a case of normal service resumed in the initial phase of the second period, with no equaliser to show for Fenerbahçe's increased share of the play. Porto's Mariano González flashed a shot past the post having dispossessed Yasin Çakmak, before another forward surge by the Liga titleholders ended with Lucho blazing wide. As a reminder that the points were far from safe, Roberto Carlos had Helton back-pedalling furiously with a miscued cross that landed on the roof of the relieved keeper's net.
Clinching strike
Fenerbahçe continued to press and looked to have unpicked the Porto rearguard with six minutes remaining when Roberto Carlos found Güiza unmarked in front of goal with a left-wing cross; however, the Spanish international glanced his header wide. Instead, Porto dealt the deciding blow two minutes into added time, as Cristian Săpunaru's determined run and measured pass set up Lino – brought on moments before – to wrap up the win.
Porto Hancurkan Raksasa Turki..
Fenerbahce sendiri tidak punya rekor bagus saat bertandang -- tak pernah menang dalam delapan partai tandang sebelumnya. Barangkali rekor itu yang membuat permainan mereka gamang begitu pertandingan dimulai. Striker Lisandro nyaris sukses memanfaatkan kegugupan lini belakang Fenerbahce, tapi tendangannya dapat diamankan Volkan Demirel.
Pada menit kesepuluh, Lisandro sukses menaklukkan Demirel memanfaatkan umpan Raul Meireles. Tiga menit setelahnya, mereka menggandakan keunggulan melalui tendangan voli Lucho Gonzalez, setelah diberi umpan silang oleh Cristian Rodriguez. Juara Portugal itu hampir mencetak gol ketiga, namun tendangan cungkilan Lisandro melampaui mistar gawang.
Fenerbahce berhasil membalas. Daniel Guiza mencetak gol menit ke-29. Umpan Ugur Boral disambut Alex dengan sundulan keras, bola ditepis Helton, namun Guiza dengan sigap menyambar pantulannya dari sudut sempit. Setelah gol itu tercipta, Fenerbahce kian bersemangat untuk mencari gol penyeimbang kedudukan.
Porto yang tak mau ketinggalan momentum kemenangan terus tampil menyerang dan berhasil membungkus keunggulan mereka pada injury time. Lino, yang baru masuk beberapa detik sebelumnya, sukses memaksimalkan umpan matang Cristian Sapunaru untuk mencetak gol pamungkas kemenangan timnya.
Porto Helton; Sapunaru, Benitez, Rolando, Bruno Alves; Raul Meireles / Tomas Costa (67'), Lucho, Fernando, Rodriguez, Mariano / Hulk (60'); Lisandro / Lino (90'+).
Fenerbahce Volkan Demirel; Gokhan Gonul, Roberto Carlos, Yasin Cakmak, Lugano; Selcuk Sahin / Josico (46') / Burak Yilmaz (53'), Maldonado, Ugur Boral / Kazim Kazim (76'), Emre Belozoglu; Alex, Guiza.
Post a Comment