FC Porto vs Rangers: Europa League Round of 16 Qualification

FC Porto received and beat Rangers 3-1 this Thursday at Dragão, managing to secure direct qualification to the round of 16 of the Europa League. The “dragons” were still scared by a Scottish goal in the opening minutes, but three goals before the break ensured the happy ending that the Porto fans wanted. Farioli’s men are now taking a break from the competition, with the draw for the “round of 16” taking place only on February 27th.

This Thursday the decisive card was played in the race for a place in the top 8 of the Europa League. The victory was crucial, but the three points might not be enough to ensure the Porto players’ direct passage to the “eighth” without stopping in the play-off. After some less successful results, the “dragons” were now at the mercy of the mathematical gods and with their ears listening in multiple stadiums across Europe.

Diogo Costa recovered in time from the fever that had prevented him from training the day before the match, taking over the starting line-up in the Porto goal. Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (not registered in the European competition) had to give up his place again: Kiwior left the left aisle to return to the central zone, teaming up with Bednarek. Francisco Moura and Alberto Costa occupied the wings. Rodrigo Mora, William Gomes and Alan Varela also joined the starting lineup.

But Rangers, a club that was already mathematically eliminated from the competition and was “only” playing for honor and the 450 thousand euros prize for the triumph, entered the Dragão as if it were the team still fighting for direct qualification.

With high and sharp pressure, the Scottish team made it difficult for Porto to form a game in the first few minutes. Often suffocated, the “dragons” had to play the long ball, deviating from Farioli’s usual style. In the 6th minute, taking advantage of a ball recovery in the Porto half, Rangers opened the scoring through Djeidi Gassama. Unmarked in the heart of the “blue and white” area, he headed the goal and made it difficult for the Porto fans.

With this “bucket” of cold water, FC Porto momentarily fell to 13th place in the Europa League ranking, far below the top eight with direct access to the “eighth”. The Porto fans urgently needed goals to revive their hosts and regain their belief.

That moment arrived 20 minutes later at the feet of Rodrigo Mora. Returning to the starting eleven, he took advantage of a clumsy cut by the Scottish defense in the heart of the area that served him the ball on a platter. Coolly, he shot from the small area unopposed into the back of the goal.

The draw was more encouraging than the disadvantage, but FC Porto was still not in the place they wanted. With the results that were recorded at the time, the Porto players rose to 9th place in the ranking, just one position away from the much-coveted direct qualification zone.

Soon after the draw, the Porto players would claim a penalty against Pepê. After running more than 50 meters at an unbridled pace, the Brazilian winger ended up being knocked down by a tackle made by central defender Emanuel Fernández, moments before shooting at goal. Despite the clear touch on the Brazilian’s foot and the strong protests from the Porto bench and Farioli, the video referee ordered to continue.

But the controversial move would end up being quickly forgotten. The Porto fans continued to press the accelerator and took the lead before the break. At 36′, Francisco Moura would put the “dragons” ahead and, at 41′, Emanuel Fernández would head the ball into his own goal from a corner.

In five minutes, FC Porto scored two goals, turned the result around with an extra “cushion” and jumped to 6th in the ranking, a comfortable zone in direct access to the “eighth”. If a catastrophe did not occur at Dragão and the other direct opponents of Porto, qualification would no longer be possible.

The second half of the match was about management. After 60 minutes, Farioli sent off Alberto Costa and William Gomes, quickly followed by Froholdt and Samu. FC Porto had the result they wanted, Rangers accepted the result and the game cooled off. In the second half, the highlight was a good save by Diogo Costa in the 63rd minute and a loss by Pepê in the 84th minute.