We have to raise our head and win our other matches, says http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 striker James Rodriguez – Report
FC Porto striker, James Rodriguez, claims that the club now have to bounce back from their 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat against APOEL. The Portuguese champions took on the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cyprus-c2881 side at GSP Stadium but a late goal left them stranded and they had to
depart without a share of the spoils.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 Pereira’s men had a point to prove away from home, as their recent form in the UEFA Champions League had been nothing short of woeful. Having already tasted defeat against Zenit St. Petersburg earlier, the pressure to perform was on the visitors and
they let it get the better of them.
Right from the start, APOEL looked to take the early lead and almost got the first of the night when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Helton-c16018 with a header that was bound to end up in the net. However the Brazilian produced a fine save and helped the ball onto the post to keep
things level on 16 minutes.
While the ensuing half saw no breakthroughs, the Dragons suffered a major setback on the 42nd minute, when Mangala brought down the lively Ailton in the box and the referee had no other choice than to award a penalty.
The 27-year-old then stepped up himself to convert the spot-kick and did so calmly, taking the score to 1-0 in his team’s favour right before the break.
While FC Porto had been rather quiet in the first half, they came out resiliently after the breather and launched a full on attack for an equalizer.
Their efforts were duly rewarded when substitute, James Rodriguez, was fouled in the box and the official had to point to the spot once again in the 88th minute.
Selecao International, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hulk-c16436, took the penalty and scored to draw things level and set-up an enthralling finale to the game.
However luck wasn’t on the side of the Portuguese outfit, as a late APOEL counterattack led by Manduca on 90 minutes undid their chances of taking some points back to Estadio do Dragao.
After the defeat, Porto’s odds of making it to the next stages of the prestigious competition are looking bleak and James Rodriguez claims that they will have to bounce back from the disappointing result.
"Losing like this always costs a lot. We are really sad because we wanted to win but unfortunately we could not. Now we have to raise our head and win the next two games. We are aware that it will be very difficult but it is not impossible,” said the attacker.
The forward also commented on his omission from the starting eleven, saying that it was the manager’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 to pick the players and he had to be content with whatever decision Vitor Pereira made.
“Work always counts. But the coach is who decides, and I have to respect that,” James Rodriguez was quoted as saying.
FC Porto will now be looking to vent their frustrations on Olhanense, whom they visit on the 5th of November in the Primeira Liga.
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