APOEL FC vs Futebol Clube do Porto UEFA Champions League--Group Stage--Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 1, 2011 GSP Stadium--Nicosia, Cyprus 19:45 Believe it or not, Porto was actually the last club to win a European match at APOEL's ground, back in November of 2009. I think we'll need another victory on Tuesday, as our goal of reaching the last 16 became much more complicated with APOEL's draw in Porto a couple weeks ago. List of callups: GK: Helton and Bracali DF: Sapunaru, Fucile, Rolando, Otamendi, Mangala and Alvaro MF: Fernando, Guarin, Belluschi, Defour and Moutinho FW: Djalma, Hulk, Kleber, James and Varela Technical Decision: Maicon, Souza and Cristian Rodriguez Not Registered/Injured: Alex Sandro, Emidio Rafael, Iturbe and Walter
Wow, did not know this. Everyone thinks this Apoel team is a joke but clearly they are a tough opponent. I think Porto will scrape through a 1-0 win though. We are good on the ropes.
This imo is a must win game, their Domestic league record isnt all that impressive, mind u they've only played 4 games at home. 4GP 2 w 1d 1l gf 4 ga2 They've been much stronger on the road, 4gp 3 w 1d gf 9 ga1 I see a 1-0 win for us. Forca Porto
Here's the starting XI, I really hope VP knows what he's doing: Helton Fucile-Rolando-Mangala-Alvaro Fernando Belluschi-Moutinho Hulk-Kleber-Varela Bench: Bracali, Sapunaru, Otamendi, Guarin, Defour, James, Djalma. --So Fucile ahead of Sapunaru --Mangala ahead of Otamendi --Belluschi ahead of Guarin and Defour --Varela ahead of James
Zenit won leaving Shakhtar in last with 2 points. If we win, we will be tied with Zenit with 7 points. MUST WIN GAME CARALHO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stoked for this match. Just got my FC Porto Away Shirt delivered today (goes perfect with the CP3 Jordans-Purple and Blue) Also if anyone gets a half-decent stream, could you please post. Still trying to get one up and running BEFORE kick off. After that I'll take anything. FORCA PORTO. 3-1 (prediction: Hulk, Kleber, James)
I love Mangala already. Great composure and he's been really solid. Can't say the same about the rest three back there. Best jinx from me, he just made a penalty we conceded. 1-0 to Apoel, ffs.
Mangala picks up a yellow... in the box. Penalty for APOEL (not sure if I would have called it) Ailton buries it bottom left corner 1-0 APOEL leads (42') Time to pull out the big guns. This is a must win. James has to come on at halftime.
So much for loving Mangala lol He's looked pretty bad IMO. When APOEL hit the post, it was due to his poor defending. And that was definitely a penalty, he tripped the guy in the box. 1-0 HT This is a must win, we need 2 goals in the second half. A loss and we're all but eliminated IMO, a tie and we barely stay alive. This team is a joke, very frustrating to watch. Not even a shadow of last year's team. They haven't really threatened or do anything with all the poss. they've had. They just put in meaningless crosses that meet nothing but the opposite side of the pitch. Also 8 corners and no damage done at all.
yeah not to mention our passing is terrible, so many giveaways led to counters which were pretty much the only chances apoel got but there were a lot of them.
I agree, and it is incredible that James don't play. He is our best attacker imo. And corners yea.. What happened to them? We were very dangerous last year on set pieces, but this year they're a joke except for a few bombs.
What bothers me to no end is our crosses. They NEVER work. No tall guys in the area. It's like VP just used AVB's tactics and is using them on a high school team.
Still hope. Hulk's pass to James, who gets taken down in the box. PENALTY Hulk converts bottom left corner. APOEL 1-1 FC Porto (88') Chance for a miracle win? NOPE APOEL counters right after the goal to make it 2-1 (90') Awful display for Porto's defense.
And that's the game. APOEL wins 2-1 over Porto. We are gonna have to hope Zenit falters to try and catch that 2nd spot. This is definitely not the same Porto team as last year, but we knew that coming into this year. We are NOT this bad. APOEL is not to be taken lightly, granted, but at the same time they are a very beatable team. Too many missed balls, wayward shots, failed passes. Time to get it together. You can tell Hulk was just as frustrated as most of us were at the end of the game, being restrained on the sideline. Congrats to APOEL on the victory, they took their chances when they came and converted. We sucked today.
This team is so bad. That 2nd goal was a joke LMAO. We are all but eliminated, no way we're going to beat Shahktar and Zenit. We need to hope APOEL beats/ties Zenit and we need to beat Shahktar & Zenit. We won't be able to take care of our own business anyways.. I'm pretty sure we won't win any more games anyways. The backline is so incredibly bad. Rolando is AWFUL all of a sudden (also been awful for Portugal). Fucile/Sapunaru define average and Otamendi/Maicon/Mangala are all extremely raw and poor/prone to mistakes. The midfield can't control the ball and move it like they used too. Fernando is Ok, Guarin is horrible all of a sudden. Moutinho is still decent but has no help. Belluschi & Defour are average at best. Hulk & James are phenomenal up front but we have no striker. Kleber is just up there not really doing anything, reminds me of Portugal's strikers. Fire VP? I think it's time.
Well I think this warrants the firing of VP, tbh I don't think it's completely his fault, our team just doesn't look like they are working very hard off the ball and their touch and passing is off as well, I don't know what's up but I think time is up for VP, we might not qualify for the knockout and now we have a very small chance at getting 1st place. I thought we lucked out with that penalty (didn't see any real contact) but it's just pathetic how we lost it, 3 of our defenders closed down 1 player and left the back exposed... terrible defending.