Showing posts with label Porto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Porto. Show all posts

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Porto and Braga reach Europa League final



Porto and Braga sealed semi-final wins to set up an all-Portuguese Europa League final in Dublin on 18 May.



Braga overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a narrow 1-0 second-leg victory at home to beat Benfica on away goals.



Porto, who had virtually assured themselves of a place in the final after a first leg 5-1 victory, reached the final despite losing 3-2 in Spain.



Falcao set a new record for most goals in a European campaign with his 16th for Porto in this season's competition.



The defeat for Porto ended a run of five successive European wins but nonetheless they are now one game away from securing their first European crown since former boss Jose Mourinho led them to Champions League glory in 2004.



"We were very competent over the two legs," said Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas.



"Villarreal was very aggressive and we kept having to adapt. They made life difficult for us, as we had expected."



In the other semi-final Braga were made to work much harder by fellow Portuguese side Benfica to secure what will be first appearance in a major European final.



With Benfica holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in the Estadio da Luz, the home side scored the crucial goal in the 18th minute when Custodio was allowed to rise unchallenged to head home.



This was Braga's eighth clean sheet in nine European games.



"I think we deserve the final after this great run we've had," said Braga coach Domingos Paciencia. "We've proved we're good enough and we'll be looking to do it again in the final."



View the Original article

Friday, May 6, 2011

Porto laugh off Hulk claim


Porto president Pinto Da Costa has rubbished claims Milan could sign Hulk this summer and insisted the striker will not be allowed to leave for less than €100 million.



Hulk, 24, has been a key part of Porto's success this season, with the team having already clinched the league title and poised to secure a place in the Europa League final.



Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani recently said: "Our transfer campaign will run from May 30, but I do like Hulk a lot."



However, Da Costa has rubbished suggestions they could afford Hulk.



"Hulk to Milan must be a joke," Da Costa told Record. "They previously wanted Cissokho and they could not do it. They got that story about his teeth as an excuse, when in fact Cissokho has better teeth than I do. It is ridiculous.



"We've not had any offers for any players at the moment, but whoever wants to sign them will have to meet their release clauses. Hulk's is set at €100 million and I won't let him go even if someone offered me €99 million. You either pay that figure or nothing."




View the Original article

Thursday, May 5, 2011

AC Milan Admits Admiration For Porto Striker Hulk

Transfer news from the Serie A is out and it has been revealed that AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has admitted admiration for Porto striker Hulk.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be among the clubs interested in the Brazilian forward and Milan general manager Galliani has also admitted his admiration of the 24-year-old.

He said: “Our transfer campaign will run from May 30, but I do like Hulk a lot.

“However, that doesn’t mean too much because I like a Barcelona player too (Lionel Messi)…”



View the Original article

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Benfica 1-3 FC Porto – Match Highlights

Porto scored three goals in 10 minutes to beat Benfica 3-1 in a thrilling Portuguese Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday to book a place in the final on away goals with a 3-3 aggregate score.

Benfica had won the first leg 2-0 away at the Dragao Stadium in February but Wednesday’s result condemned them to a second defeat this month by Porto, who also beat them at the Luz Stadium to clinch the league title.

The first half on Wednesday was a tame affair with only one chance apiece — a shot sent just wide for Benfica by Oscar Cardozo and an effort by Porto’s Colombia striker Radamel Falcao that keeper Julio Cesar blocked.

But the game burst into life in a high-tempo second half when Porto’s Joao Moutinho opened the scoring with a low diagonal drive in the 64th minute.

Burly Brazilian forward Hulk put Porto level on aggregate just seven minutes later, taking advantage a missed clearance by his compatriot Luisao to tap in the second.

Falcao gave holders Porto the away goal advantage in the 74th minute when his shot was deflected in by Benfica midfielder Javi Garcia to wrongfoot Cesar.

Cardozo gave Benfica some hope in the 80th minute by converting a penalty, but Porto held on to secure another memorable triumph at their rivals’ ground.

Porto will meet Vitoria Guimaraes at the final on May 22.



View the Original article

Friday, April 8, 2011

FC Porto 5-1 Spartak Moscow – Match Highlights

FC Porto 5-1 Spartak Moscow – Match Highlights[ 0 ] April 8, 2011 [Translate]

A hat-trick by Falcao guided Porto to an emphatic 5-1 win over Spartak Moscow which, barring a miraculous comeback, saw the Portuguese champions as good as book their place in the semi-final of the Europa League.

Falcao gave the hosts a first-half lead before scoring two goals in the last six minutes as the Porto forwards gave their Russian opponents a torrid time after a cagey start in their quarter-final first leg.

Silvestre Varela also found the net for Porto with Kirill Kombarov scoring at both ends.



View the Original article

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More