Sunday, April 5, 2009

Dragões comeback to defeat Vitória de Guimarães 3-1

Os Dragões continued on their championship run with a 3-1 come from behind victory over Vitória de Guimarães 3-1. With seven weeks remaining in the Liga campaign, Porto holds a four point advantage over nearest rival Sporting.

With an eye towards Tuesday's Champions League clash against Manchester United, Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira kept Lucho González and Cristian Rodríguez out of the starting eleven assignments. After early efforts by Ernesto Farías and Hulk were denied by Guimarães veteran 'keeper Nilson (Corrêia Júnior), Manuel Cajuda's side took the lead at the nineteenth minute. In a clever run up of play (Carlos) Milhazes, on loan from Romania's FC Timişoara, crossed into the box for Roberto to flick into the netting to take the 1-0 lead. The lead stood without further threat from the Dragões until seven minutes after the break. From the corner Aly Cissokho withstood challenges of Guimarães defenders before supplying the ball to Raul Meireles. The Portuguese international set a pin-point cross to the far post to which Ernesto Farías nodded in. Now level Porto surged for the winner and only six minutes later Mariano González supplied it as he flicked on a Tomás Costa effort sent into the box to make it 2-1. Well in control of the run of play Guimarães were barely a threat and with three minutes remaining Rolando added his name to the score-sheet via a corner as he rose high to powerfully head the ball in and bring the match to a 3-1 final.

Porto returns to action this Tuesday as they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.