Futebol Clube do Porto vs Paços de Ferreira Liga Portuguesa (9ª Jornada) Estádio do Dragão Friday, October 28, 2011 20:15 ********ing week matches again, I've missed more than half of Porto's games already this year. I'll just make a match thread anyway, hopefully someone can watch the game and give an overview. Anyway, we have an extremely important CL match in Cyprus next week, so hopefully tomorrow won't be too stressful. Biggest absence is Otamendi, but VP has decided to rest him and will probably give Mangala another start next to Rolando. Squad Called: GK: Helton and Bracali DF: Sapunaru, Rolando, Mangala, Maicon and Alvaro MF: Fernando, Guarin, Belluschi, Defour and Moutinho FW: Djalma, Hulk, Kleber, Walter, James and Varela Technical Decision: Fucile, Otamendi, Alex Sandro, Souza and Cristian Rodriguez Injured: Rafa and Iturbe
Damn, I guess no one is watching haha...surprised to see Moutinho and James left out of our starting XI: Helton Sapunaru-Rolando-Mangala-Alvaro Fernando Belluschi-Defour Hulk-Walter-Varela Bench: Bracali, Maicon, Guarin, Moutinho, Djalma, James & Kleber.
1-0 at HT according to livescore, a ridiculous own goal gives us the lead? Doesn't sound like we're playing too well.
Doesn't sound like at all. But this is one of those league games (before a huge CL match) that I don't care how we play, I just wanna' get through it with 3 points.
Thanks for the link Viva Portugal. Also, it appears a striker of there's was credited for the own goal.. weird Also, it says Moutinho has replaced Defour.
'51 Alvaro puts in a beautiful cross to Walter who puts it over the bar. It was a great opportunity but hard to score. Still should have done better. Hate to say it but it's one of those chances Falcao finishes beautifully.
'53 Good cross off a direct free kick by Pacos Ferreira met by a header that Helton did well to make an instinct save and held onto the ball
'59 James on for Hulk. We've now used all 3 of our subs. Surprised to see Varela stay on and Hulk pulled off. I guess he's giving Hulk some rest for CL next week. The Porto crowd were unhappy with the sub and let VP know it! Boos roared.
'64 2-0!! Kleber!! easy tap in Beautiful sequence of possession by everyone involved (Mou, Belluschi, Fernando, Varela, James & Kleber). Mou made a nice play into the box and pass to James who fired a nice shot off the far post, ball comes back to Kleber who fires it into the open net!! I have to go now unfortunately, but I leave more comfortable knowing it's a 2-0 lead
Good result! And I love how our three most important players (IMO Hulk, Moutinho & James) didn't play 90 (Moutinho 45, Hulk 60, James, 30) and Kleber also only played about 30. Guarin didn't even play (I'm assuming he'll start next week over Belluschi who played a full 90 today). Good rotation by VP!!
Guarin is worrying me. He hasn't been himself this season. Very slow, poor passing, I hope he wakes up soon.
Yeah, me too. I expected him to get off to a bit of a slow start after playing in the Copa America, but we're well into the season now and he still doesn't look fit or confident. I guess it's good that we signed Defour and kept Belluschi and Moutinho so that we have some depth at the position.