Dragon postpones title party

FC Porto’s 2-1 victory over Casa Pia continues the fight for the title against Benfica with two games left in the league.

The dragons entered in a hurry, and the desire to solve the game used to be the enemy of perfection. Orphaned by Otavio and Marcano (suspended), Sergio Conceicao’s team wanted to speed things up, but stumbled at the end. Faced with the difficulty of entering the Casa Pia area, the blue and white began to try long distances without success. Eustaquio, Andre Franco and Taremi missed good opportunities.

It soon became clear that Casa Pia was not in Dragao to pay his respects. Godwin was back at his best, with sprints embarrassing Porto’s defense. Japan’s Soma also sniffed the goal, but it was Evanilson’s own goal that gave the Goose an advantage in the last minute of the first half from a free kick.

Sergio Conceição followed the team so closely at half-time that it took some time for the team to get back on the pitch. In fact, the game was already underway when the coach came to the bench. Faced with dissatisfaction, the blue and white coach asked Veron to join. The first time the Colombian touched the ball, he assisted Taremi on goal, a move that Zolotić could have shortened.

Galeno hit the post after all, and the offensive flow predicted a fracture on the scoreboard, which came over the knee of Namaso, who had also just come off the bench.

Positive
Veron and Namaso
Veron entered and gave life to Porto’s attack. It was he who made an assist to the gates of Taremi, and also delivered two dangerous blows. Namaso also jumped off the bench and eventually returned.

Negative
Wendell and the backwardness of Porto
Porto’s left-back committed an unnecessary foul on Poloni. The free kick ended with a goal of the geese. Also noteworthy is Porto’s significant delay in returning to the field after the break.

Arbitration
Hand of Taremi and Uribe
Taremi should have received a yellow card for pushing Beni off the field. Uribe touched the ball with his hand, but it was on the ground, so the referee correctly decided that the ball should be played.

Conceição’s confusing and ambiguous gesture at the end
“In the first half, there was rainfall and shortsightedness, which is understandable at this time of the season,” said Sergio Conceição. After Porto’s second goal, the coach contacted the “mouth” and gestures (suggesting payment) with a member of the Casa Pia technical team. As soon as the referee whistled for the end, Conceicao went into the tunnel in protest, having been removed by the dragon elements.

quartet escapes
Wendell, Fabio Cardoso, Pepe and Galeno could have missed Porto’s trip to the Famalicao if they saw the yellow card against Casa Pia, but in the end they all missed referee Manuel Oliveira’s card. The quartet will then be part of Sergio Conceição’s selection for the next game.