André Villas-Boas’ Porto continued their undefeated play with a 3-0 victory over host Paços de Ferreira. With the result, the Dragões take a commanding eight point lead in the Liga Portuguesa before the Christmas break.

The early stages saw Porto slice apart the hosts defenders with ‘keeper Cássio under siege from the opening whistle. After a series of squandered chances, Nicolás Otamendi gave Porto the 1-0 lead at the eleventh minute as, at the back post, he re-directed Hulk’s stylish free kick from the right into the back of the net. However following the goal, Porto’s night was marked with ineffective finishing and without further incident took the one goal advantage to the break.

At the re-start, Porto was showing little initiative going forward and looking for an insurance goal the Porto tactician summoned Walter for Falcao on the hour, with Souza for James Rodríguez a minute later. For much of remaining time, the best chances were in the hosts favour but Porto ‘keeper Helton smartly denied their efforts.

As time wound down match day referee Artur Soares Dias adjudged Paços de Ferreira a penalty for a unfortunate hand ball and in the ensuing effort, Hulk drilled the ball into the net to give Porto the commanding lead. In the fourth-minute of added-time, Hulk surged along the left by-line before delivering a cross that Walter re-directed into the net to secure the 3-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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Benfica extended its assault on the championship with a 3-1 victory over Paços de Ferreira at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. With the result Benfica hold down the top spot in the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Paços de Ferreira sits at the seventh spot

The Águias took the 1-0 lead two minutes shy of the quarter-hour as Ángel Di María’s cross from the left was headed back into the box before Ruben Amorim nodded the ball in. Only four minutes later Javier Saviola was played in through the left channel and after getting past the defender, drove the ball in from twelve metres. Paços de Ferreira drew one back a few minutes shy of the break as a long cross from the left flank was headed in by William from ten metres. After a number of high quality efforts came up empty Óscar Cardozo drove the ball, via a opportunistic deflection, from just inside the area. Without further incident the match concluded as Benfica claimed the 3-1 victory.

Benfica returns to play on Sunday as they visit Nacional da Madeira, whilst Paços de Ferreiral visits Marítimo the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

Sporting’s difficult campaign continued as they were held to a scoreless draw by Paços de Ferreira at Estádio da Mata Real. The result extends Sporting’s win-less run to three matches with them perilously holding down the fourth spot of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Paços de Ferreira hopes for a berth in the Europa League continue, as they are three points off at the eighth place.

Coming off the difficult loss to Académica de Coimbra at the Estádio José Alvalade, further complicated by a mid-week stumble in the Carling Cup, Sporting manager Carlos Carvalhal noted via the club web site that his side “will play to win this game”. Those words of encouragement aside, Sporting were plagued without the services of Miguel Veloso and former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov. The early going saw both sides thirsting to break the deadlock, marked by Liédson’s goal bound header miraculously pushed over the cross bar by Paços de Ferreira goalkeeper Júlio Coelho. After the break, Liédson looked to be in perfect position to score as he was played through but Júlio Coelho surged forward to push the ball to safety. To their credit, Sporting continued to apply pressure through the remaining time, narrowly missing the winning mark on a number of occasions but their stubborn host could not be broke and the match concluded as a scoreless draw, honours even.

Sporting returns to play on Tuesday as they visit Everton at the Goodison Park in Europa League action, whilst Paços de Ferreira visit Rio Ave on 21 February.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

In a positively brilliant fight to the last gasp, Paços de Ferreira defeated Académica de Coimbra 2-1 at the Estádio da Mata Real. With the result Ulisses Morais’s climb to the tenth of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Académica nestle two points above the relegation zone at the twelfth spot.

With a backdrop of heavy rain, the opening forty-five minutes was a scrappy affair, marked with hard challenges and nary a loose ball left unchallenged. The hosts had a number of reasonable chances fall to striker William but each of his efforts were off-course and the match went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start, Ulisses Morais summoned Pizzi in for the highly talented Manuel José, on-loan from Benfica. However, at the forty-seventh minute Académica shocked the home supporters with the go-ahead goal as Rafael’s long free kick from the right was headed in by former SV Ried defender Markus Berger at the near post. Searching for equalizer, Romeu was summoned in for Paços de Ferreira with twenty minutes left on the clock in a move that would pay off late. With Académica looking as if they were going to return to Coimbra with the full three points Ricardo lodged the equalizer with five minutes remaining as he soared high to head in a Baiano’s long cross from the right at the back post. Finally, in the last gasp of the match the hosts found the winner as Romeu got behind the defenders to head in Baiano’s long, searching right wing cross from ten metres out for the shocking 2-1 victory.

Académica de Coimbra returns to play next Saturday as travel to the capital to face Sporting, whilst Paços de Ferreira visits Vitória de Guimarães the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

Porto’s problematic season continued as Paços de Ferreira held them to a 1-1 draw at Estádio do Dragão. The result leaves the defending champions third in the Liga Portuguesa table, three points behind Braga and Benfica, each who play on Sunday, with Paços de Ferreira holding down the tenth spot.

Os Dragões entered the greater Porto derby as overwhelming favourites quite naturally but quickly found the visitors patient and unyielding in defence. The first notable scoring chance fell to Porto’s Tomás Costa at the eighteenth minute when he said a long-range effort just a smidgen wide. Seven minutes later Álvaro Pereira’s cross was headed by Cristian Rodríguez directly at visiting goalkeeper Cássio for an easy stop. Just past the half-hour mark, Falcao had a perfect chance to give Porto the lead but he sent his header wide from seven metres out. Though Porto had good claim that a wrongful offside call chalked off a Falcao goal, for the balance of the half they were held in check by the visitors.

After the break, Porto supporters were disappointed with barely a menacing advance by their side. At the sixty-ninth minute Falcao’s disappointing night continued as he sent a high probability effort from ten metres inexplicably wide. The growing discontent was obvious as tensions grew and with eight minutes, remaining Paços de Ferreira stunned the home side as a quick counter saw Pizzo surge into the box from the right, only to cross to a completely unmarked Maykon, who after a calming touch sent the ball past a sprawling Helton. With whistles and jeers raining down from the stands, the situation looked bleak for Porto. Summoning a champion’s spirit, Porto dug deep in search of the leveller and with five minutes remaining Silvestre Varela’s superb cross from the left by-line was headed in by a diving Falcao. With the match now 1-1, the stage was set for a stunning finish, rife with tension. Needing a victory to stay close to Braga and Benfica, Porto poured forward with seemingly all eleven of Paços de Ferreira set no further than fifteen metres off the goal. With a minute left in regulation, Ozéia was sent off with a second yellow, a dubious handball call that replays showed the ball clearly came off his chest. Five minutes of added-time ensued with Porto completely in control, thundered effort after effort at Cássio, yet somehow Paços de Ferreira stood his ground. With diving stops on Ernesto Farías and Bruno Alves, Porto’s effort to grab a late win fell short and the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved