The Portistas go into the break leading the English Premier League side by a solitary goal courtesy of Silvestre Varela’s close-range tap in at Estadio do Dragao.
Porto coach http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 Pereira handed Danilo his first start in a UEFA competition, while Manchester City welcomed back influential midfielder Yaya Toure from International duty.
And it was the Ivorian who had the first sight of the opposing goal, as he unleashed a typical run only to be stopped in his tracks by his opposite midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-c13609.
The home side took heart from their interceptions and soon bombarded the City box with cross after cross, that culminated in a decent opening for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rolando-c31583 via a corner. But the Seleccao International’s header was deflected behind for another set-piece.
Porto then had a major setback on the 19th minute, as debutant http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danilo-c10159 had to be stretchered off due to his late challenge on Toure, something which earned him the first booking of the night as well.
The Citizens profited from the hosts’ unfortunate injury as the ensuing a free kick created chaos in the box and the goal keeper was unable to parry it to safety. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Micah-Richards-c25259 unleashed a rasping volley after a failed Dragao clearance, but Helton atoned
for his earlier misjudgment by producing a sublime save.
It was wave after wave of City attack and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Helton-c16018.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eliaquim-Mangala-c12266 was subbed on for Danilo and his presence on the pitch, allowed Porto to wander further up front and draw first blood on 27 minutes.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vincent-Kompany-c36184 failed to sniff out the danger.
Estadio do Dragao were rocking but the fans had their hearts in their mouth shortly after when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 was clear on goal, but yet again it was Helton, who ensured a clean sheet after pulling off another magical save on the 29th minute.
Things then started to get rough, as both sides cranked up the tempo. Lucho Gonzalez who returned to the club this winter almost had his name on the score sheet on the 38th minute, but Jolean Lescott was in the right place at the right time to
clear his goal bound volley.
It was end to end stuff, as City had a chance of their own through Gael Clichy’s cross, however Italian forward Balotelli could not do enough to guide goalwards after brushing aside several opposing defenders.
The game, however, was still tipped in favour of the Primeira Liga outfit and it ended on a high note, as Fernando’s crunching tackle on Yaya Toure was met roars of approval from the club faithful, who saw their team lead 1-0 at the interval.
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