It looked like it was this one, but it wasn’t. FC Porto won in Guimarães (0-1), in one of the most complicated trips of the season, in one of the matches in which Francesco Farioli’s dragons found it most difficult this season.
Alan Varela scored from the penalty spot five minutes into the 90′, after Samu had already missed from the eleven meter mark in the first half. Vitória SC caused a lot of difficulties for the Dragons and, with greater efficiency in attack and less propensity for errors in defense, they could have come out of this game with a different result.
SC victory big, dragons in trouble
As is typical in big games, D.Afonso Henriques delivered an atmosphere to cut with a knife for the visiting team. Full stadium, with great support for the teams and no rain: the ideal atmosphere for the culminating game of the day.
Galvanized by winning the League Cup and the support of the Victorians, the home team came in with everything and put the leader in a bad light. From the opening whistle until the 24th minute of the game there was only Vitória SC. Crosses passing into the area, shots and many half-opportunities inside the FC Porto area left Farioli thoughtful.
However, almost falling from the sky, FC Porto benefited from a penalty five minutes into the half hour of play. Lebedenko misread the move and fell over Alberto inside the area. From the penalty spot, Samu – who had never missed a penalty since arriving in Portugal – hit the bar with great force and wasted the first.
Luís Pinto’s team showed personality and reacted immediately, but without ever giving Diogo Costa trouble. Camara and Saviolo were preponderant in creating from the corridors, Beni Mukendi and Gonçalo Nogueira managed to get out of pressure very well. On the dragons’ side, Kiwior and Thiago Silva were the best.
The same players returned for the second half, but the outsiders showed a different competitive attitude. The Dragons managed to pick up the game and control the ball more early on, which didn’t happen in the first half.
The first big opportunity in the complementary half came from the Dragons. Gabri Veiga received the ball inside the area, simulated twice and shot wide, right in Castillo’s face. Farioli changed the team for the first time at game time, launching the boys Mora and William Gomes to add some irreverence that the team lacked.
The clock ticked down and the game began to level again. Vitória SC enjoyed a huge opportunity through Lebedenko, who headed towards the far post after a huge save by Diogo Costa. In response, Borja Sainz shot the post and Mora wide, putting the Victorian team on alert.
20 minutes from the end, Farioli debuted the new Porto gem, Oskar Pietuszewski. The Pole came out with personality, took responsibility and won a penalty the first time he touched the ball. Immediate effect.
On the second opportunity at the eleven meter mark, Alan Varela sat Castillo down with all the class he could and opened the scoring, already five minutes away from 90′. Total madness in the visiting sector of D. Afonso Henriques.
FC Porto added Bednarek to the defense for the last minutes, FC Porto lowered the block and cleaned up everything there was to clean, thus holding three precious points for the blue and white team.
Player Analysis: Ratings and Evaluation
Find (FC Porto): It was lower than usual. He gave little support to the game, he was not asked for depth and he even threw a penalty over the bar. In the area, he did not have any chance to make a difference.
Beni Mukendi (Vitória SC): Don’t feel pressure. The Angolan international played another great game, with the calm that always characterizes him. He added recoveries and releases from pressure with great quality. It is the pendulum at the core of Luís Pinto’s team.
Oskar Pietuszewski (FC Porto): Arrive, see and help. With his first touch of the ball, he won a penalty and then helped a lot in the defensive process. At 17, he had a dream debut on difficult terrain.
Jakub Kiwior (FC Porto): The best on the field. Alongside Thiago Silva, he cleaned up everything that was necessary, was – at his level – excellent in construction and was the leader of a defense that had a lot of work to do in Guimarães. He is one of the best players in the championship so far.
The referee
Good performance from João Gonçalves. There were two controversial moves – the two penalties – and he decided well in both moves, in the second with the help of VAR Tiago Martins. He controlled the mood well and let the game run smoothly.
Incidents: The Game Film
Vitória SC eleven: Juan Castillo, Tony Strata, Miguel Nóbrega, Rodrigo Abascal, Orest Lebedenko, Gonçalo Nogueira, Beni Mukendi, Oumar Camara, Samu Silva, Noah Saviolo, Alioune Ndoye
FC Porto eleven: Diogo Costa, Alberto Costa, Thiago Silva, Jakub Kiwior, Martim Fernandes, Victor Froholdt, Gabri Veiga, Alan Varela, Pepê, Samu, Borja Sainz
Big game to close out Sunday. Leader FC Porto plays in Guimarães, against Vitória, a team that will have maximum motivation, after winning the League Cup last weekend.
Looking at the starting lineups, FC Porto is betting on the duo Thiago Silva-Jakub Kiwior in the center of defense, placing Martim Fernandes on the left, despite Moura being on the bench. At the front, the bet fell on Borja Sainz on the left.
Vitória SC is betting on the 11 that was imagined, with Ndoye replacing Nélson Oliveira and Orest Lebedenko replacing João Mendes
The match started
Vitória SC: Oumar Camara bumping into the wall!! Saviolo manages to win against Alberto and crosses into the area. Then, Camara appeared to shoot from a great position, but Martim Fernandes blocked it.
Vitória’s very strong entry into the game. The team is very strong and is able to attack quickly
Vitória SC: Samu Silvaat the insistence after the corner, headed for a safe save by Diogo Costa
Vitória is setting an impressive initial pace. It will be important for the Guimarães team to manage the effort a little
Vitória SC: Noah Saviolo Alberto Costa just sat down inside the area. Then, he tried to hit the first post, but it didn’t come out with much force and Diogo Costa held on.
Vitória SC: Miguel Nóbrega there was everything to enjoy. The central defender was up and receives a cross in the central part of the area. He didn’t hit the ball well and the shot was lost
Alberto Costa was fleeing to the right and ended up being taken down by Lebedenko. Seems to be well marked
Samu (FC Porto) misses the penalty!
Vitória SC: Samu Silva with everything for the goal! Unbelievable counterattack from Minho and Samu had everything to score, but got in the way of Ndoye and the ball went into the stands
Alberto and Martim are having a lot of difficulties dealing with Camara and Saviolo. They have won the line several times in direct duels
Final stretch of the first half more balanced, with FC Porto gaining more in the game
The first half ends and it was, perhaps, FC Porto’s most difficult 45 minutes in the League. Vitória has twice as many attacks and many more shots. The Minho intensity has been astonishing. However, the game’s biggest opportunity belongs to the dragons, with Samu missing a penalty.
Vitoria S: Alioune Ndoye recovering a ball against Gabri Veiga (poor performance), he dodged a defender and shot wide in a frontal position
FC Porto is having a lot of difficulty leaving. Many of these problems appear with Samu’s inability to play in support
FC Porto: Gabri Veiga gaining some rebounds and having space in the area. Thanks to Vitória, the shot was very bad
FC Porto is much better in the second half. He’s managing to overcome Vitória’s pressure better
Vitória SC: Samu Silva see Diogo Costa show him why he is one of the best in the world. Played from the right, perfect cross and Samu’s header is saved with a phenomenal spot.
Borja Sainz (FC Porto) hits the post!!! Great pass from Alan Varela to isolate the Spaniard, who deflects Castillo with a small touch, but the ball hits the post
FC Porto: Rodrigo Mora take paint off the post. The young Porto player takes advantage of a gap in the area, works well and shoots wide
THERE IS analyse:possible penalty on Pietuszewski, from FC Porto
GOAL FC Porto: Alan Varela scores from the penalty spot! Alan Varela scores his 2nd goal in the competition (17 games) Alan Varela scores his 4th goal in the team (115 games)
Tony Strata (Vitória SC) is injured. Very tough entry from Pietuszewski. Minho finish the game with 10
Red card for Telmo Arcanjo (Vitória SC) Telmo Arcanjo sees his 1st red in the competition (16 games)
The referee blows the whistle for the end of the match
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