Porto Vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Hulk, Red Cards Lead Porto To Victory

Porto have lost both Andre Villas-Boas and Radamel Falcao over the summer, but the Portuguese champions are hardly a spent force. Any team that features Hulk is a threat, and Porto showed it at the Estadio de Dragao, despite Shakhtar Donetsk going ahead in the 12th minute thanks to a tap in by Luiz Adriano after Helton failed to hold a shot by Willian. Hulk, who had hit the post with a penalty before the opening goal, replied with a stunning free kick in the 28th minute, and when Shakhtar found themselves down to ten men thanks to a bad challenge by Yaroslav Rakitskiy on Joao Moutinho, everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before Porto got their winner.

Said winner eventually arrived through Kleber, shortly after half time, when the 21-year-old met James’ Rodriguez cross to convert from very close range. Porto had complete control of the game now, and their task was made easier thanks to Dmytro Chygrynskiy picking up his second booking of the match in the 80th minute. It was a deserved win for last season’s Europa League winners, even if poor finishing meant the scorline wasn’t quite as glossy as it should have been.