Goals from Hulk and Kleber saw Porto begin their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk.
Portuguese champions off and running in Europe
Goals from Hulk and Kleber saw Porto begin their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk at Estadio Do Dragao in Group G on Tuesday evening.
Luiz Adriano put the visitors ahead on 12 minutes after Hulk had hit the frame of the Shakhtar goal and failed to convert a penalty, but the Porto striker redeemed himself just before the half-hour mark when he scored from a free-kick.
The sending off of Shakhtar's Yaroslav Rakitskiy five minutes before the half-time interval gave Porto more advantage, as last season's Europa League winners scored their second and final goal early in the second period through Kleber.
Dmytro Chygrynskiy also saw red for the Ukrainian champions in the 80th minute.
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Porto almost made the breakthrough in the fifth minute when Hulk curled a 25-yard shot from the right wing which took a deflection and hit the bar before going over a stranded Olexandr Rybka.
The hosts then squandered a golden chance to take the lead in the 11th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on James Rodriguez.
The midfielder had made his way into the area, playing a short ball to Hulk. However, as he went to receive the return pass from his team-mate, he was impeded by Rakitskiy and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Hulk sent the goalkeeper the wrong way but the ball hit the post.
The Portuguese champions were punished two minutes later when the visitors went ahead following a woeful mistake by Helton.
Willian fired in a shot which the goalkeeper should have routinely gathered but the ball spilled from his grasp and Luiz Adriano pounced to tap home.
Comeback
With Helton looking uncertain, Porto appeared to be losing the initiative before a thunderbolt from Hulk brought them level in the 28th minute.
The Brazilian lined up a free-kick in a central position from 35 yards and unleashed a vicious shot which moved in the air with Rybka unable to prevent it going into the net despite getting both hands to the ball.
Moments later Porto appeared to have a valid shout for another penalty when Hulk got beyond the defender Henrikh Mkhitaryan and seemed to have been bundled over but nothing was given despite strong appeals.
He then produced another long-range shot which Rybka beat out as the hosts upped the tempo.
Shakhtar's task grew harder when they were reduced to 10 men five minutes before the break when Rakitskiy was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Joao Moutinho.
The hosts then took the lead for the first time in the game six minutes into the second half. Rodriguez got ahead of the defence on the left wing before cutting a low cross back across the face of goal and Pinheiro Kleber had the simple task of tapping the ball home.
Chygrynskiy was then sent off for his second bookable offence 10 minutes from time to complete a miserable night for Shakhtar.
| FC Porto |
Team Statistics |
Shakhtar Donetsk |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 17 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 8 |
Corners |
7 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
2 |
| 86.4 |
Passing Success |
72.9 |
| 13 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 53.8 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
| 63.2 |
Possession |
36.8 |
| 71.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
28.8 |
|
