In short: Zaidu and Galeno came off the bench to give FC Porto the victory, against Bayer Leverkusen (2-0), and the first points in the Champions League, in a match in which Taremi provided two assists and Diogo Costa saved a penalty. in a move that is as surreal as it is frustrating.
The 41st minute of today’s game between the Portuguese and Germans at Estádio do Dragão is an example of how modern football is held hostage to technology and festivities can be transient. A German attack ended in a counter-attack by Porto (spectacular by the way), which resulted in a goal from Taremi. The Iranian celebrated, the bank celebrated, the stands of Estádio do Dragão celebrated, but they had to wait for the validation of the VAR… start of the match).
Too bad for the Blues and Whites that Diogo Costa knew the opponent from the 11 meter mark. Last week he had a penalty from Patrick Schick in Rep. Checa-Portugal, and today prevented the Czech from scoring again, keeping the score at nil until halftime.
The second half showed that this João Mário (he was the novice among the eleven, in exchange for Rodrigo Conceição) is not the same as last year. Perhaps because he realized this in advance, Gerardo Seaone bet on Hincapié, Aránguiz and Adam Hlozek to take advantage of the space behind the white and blue defenders. Something that only happened in the first half. In the second half FC Porto played alone. Taremi (49″) and Estáquio (59″) are still under threat…
Until Sérgio Conceição came into play with two successful substitutions to make history and become the FC Porto coach with the most Champions League wins (17). He traded Wendell for Zaidu and the Nigerian did what he knows best: seize the opportunity to be a hero. The goalscorer of the title that gave FC Porto the title, in the heart of Estádio da Luz, in May, was again decisive by making the 1-0 (cross by Taremi). And he traded João Mário for Galeno, who made it 2-0 (with Taremi’s pass), keeping the team in the fight for qualifying for the round of 16… even because At. Madrid lost to Club Brugge (0-2) and kept Group B’s accounts open.
A difficult trip to Germany follows, already in the next one week.
SEE THE GOALS
1-0 Zaidu (FC Porto)
2-0 Galeno (FC Porto)
Source: DN
