FC Porto vs Manchester United, 2008/09 UEFA Champions League, Quarter-finals

· 2nd Leg - Manchester United win 3-2 on aggregate

FC Porto

FT
0 - 1
2nd Leg - Manchester United win 3-2 on aggregate

Manchester United

6': Cristiano Ronaldo

About

FC Porto are hosting Manchester United at Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0': If tonight's game is as good as the first leg, we're in for a treat.
0': Teams are: FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Lucho Gonzalez, Fernando, Raul Meireles, Lopez, Hulk, Rodriguez. Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Giggs, Carrick, Anderson, Rooney, Berbatov, Ronaldo.
0': And the subs: Porto: Nuno, Stepanov, Guarin, Mariano Gonzalez, Costa, Madrid,Farias. United: Foster, Neville, Evans, Nani, Scholes, Tevez, Macheda.
0': Porto are unchanged from the first leg, and United are far from it, which tells you plenty about how each side feels the game went. United's lack of athleticism in midfield allowed Porto to run through them, which explains the inclusion of Anderson. Whether he'll be enough remains to be seen.
0': United will feel that Porto played as well as they can last week and still didn't win, whilst they can play much better. Conversely, Porto will feel they should have won at Old Trafford, and United's form has scarcely improved since then.
0': In his pre-match interview, Fergie said that Ronaldo would be playing up front. I must say I don't get this. His only in-form player is Wayne Rooney, and it is he who makes United tick. This takes him away from the middle of the pitch where he can be most influential, and makes it easier for Porto to pick up Ronaldo, who is more elusive coming from deep.
1': United kick off.
1': Giggs is on the left for United, Rooney on the right.
2': Good football by United down the right hand side, throw in.
2': Rooney's ball in cleared, and taken down beautifully by Berbatov, but the move comes to nothing.
3': Porto shocked United in how they set about them straight from the off last week and Carrick appears not to have heeded the warning, caught in possession in his own half.
3': Porto have a free kick wide on the right about 40 yards from goal.
4': Hulk zips it in low and Van der Saar saves low to his right.
4': Ferdinand comes across to cover Vidic - that's what they've missed.
5': Cissokho late on Rooney. Free kick.
5': Cissokho lunges in on Berbatov but no foul.
5': Great interplay between Ronaldo and Evra down the right, but Evra overruns.
6': Rodriguez takes the ball well in his stride, but is run off it by Anderson.
7': GOAL! Brilliant hit from Ronaldo, taking the ball 40 yards from goal in centrefield, advancing a stride and whacking it past Helton high to his right.
8': And yes I know were he out wide he wouldn't have been there to do that. Not for the first, second or ten thousandth time, Fergie was right and I was wrong.
9': Late tackle on Anderson by Lucho in the United half, free kick.
9': Anderson looks like one of those kids' toys that bounce back up the second you knock them over.
9': O'Shea and Berbatov between them manage to waste a good position down the right.
11': So far this has been the opposite of the first leg, with United starting purposefully and Porto a little sleepy.
11': Walcott scores for Arsenal in tonight's other game.
11': If latter-career Fergie is anything to go by, United will now sit back. That's certainly how they played it last season.
12': O'Shea finds Rooney who tees up Carrick but his shot from 25 yards slides not that far wide.
13': There's only one team in this at the moment. Rooney, Ronaldo and Berbatov knock it around and United win a throw which comes to nothing.
14': Anderson breaks well, but wastes his pass when on the edge of the box with runners around him.
14': Ronaldo is chopped down and responds with his customary grimacing.
15': Berbatov - who is holding the ball very well - wastes possession, sending it back to Van der Saar.
16': Hulk's flick is cut out by Vidic.
17': Cissokho crosses from the byline but it's easy for Van der Saar. Michael Carrick is down and the ball is kicked out. Mike Phealan takes the opportunity to offer Ronaldo some advice, which presumably he'll ignore - I would if I were him.
19': Hulk wins the ball and looks for Lisandro but Vidic is in quickly.
20': Carrick looks to have won the ball - and replays show he did - but the ref blows for a foul on Lisandro. Free kick 35 yards out, slightly left of centre.
20': Alves hits a good effort that clipped Berbatov's raised elbow and goes behind. The referee gives a goal kick.
21': Porto have found their feet now.
22': Giggs gives the ball away in midfield but Ferdinand breaks up the ensuing attack.
23': Hulk tries to slide Lisandro through, but a combination of Vidic and Ferdinand crowd him out.
24': Lisandro tries a scissors kick, helped on his way to ground by the ever-obliging Ferdinand but Van der Saar saves.
25': Giggs clears Lisandro's cross from the left.
26': Van der Saar's off-white shorts don't go very well with his black jersey. Tsk tsk.
27': Rooney loses possession allowing Cissokho to break, but the attack breaks down.
27': Raul Meireles gets his first real action, but his cross is cleared. Porto are well on top now.
28': Rooney is wearing yellow boots. The last of the back street footballers - as he was described by ex-manager David Moyes - would get a slap were he to venture into the back streets wearing those.
29': Bad news for Porto - Lucho looks like he's going off.
30': Giggs' well-controlled volley from Berbatov's cross on the right hits Helton.
31': Anderson cleverly finds Evra, but his low cross is poor. Lucho is replaced by Mariano who scored Porto's second goal in the first leg.
32': Evra robs Hulk and United break.
33': Great interception by Vidic and he nails Hulk at the same time, fairly.
33': Anderson slips attempting to cross and looks even sillier than his dreadlocks-cornrows combo.
35': Lucho's inury slowed Porto's momentum and United are back on top again. The game isn't as open as last week, which will please United.
36': Ronaldo pressures Rolando and the anagrams produce a ricochet that gives Porto a throw close to their goalline.
37': Great turn from Rooney but he is dispossessed and looks a little hurt. It must be those yellow boots.
37': Mariano shoots and the ball goes high and wide but not that high or wide. Rooney looks like he may have to go off.
39': Lovely turn by Berbatov, who is caught.
39': Ronaldo robs the very dodgy Helton, who thought the ball was going out for a goal kick, but it wasn't, and United have a corner.
39': Ball breaks to Carrick but his shot hits his own player.
40': Bruno Alves heads wide from Meireles' free kick. It's not that close, but had it been, Van der Saar owould have been nowhere near it.
42': Porto break again with Rodriguez and Vidic decides bringing him down is worth the inevitable yellow card.
42': Free kick 30 yards out will be taken by Meireles, but it's rubbish.
43': Ronaldo is sent away down the left by Giggs and wins a corner. He is playing very well tonight, dangerous across the width of the pitch.
44': What a miss! O'Shea flicks on Giggs' corner and Vidic somehow sends the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out.
45': Berbartov is held by Saopunaru and United have a free kick, 35 yards out but quite wide on the left.
45': It clips the wall and drifts to the other side of the pitch.
45': Lisandro shoots left-footed by Carrick pressures him well and deflects the ball through to his keeper.
45': Great combination play between O'Shea, Rooney and Giggs, but the low cross is cut out by Helton.
45': HALF TIME: Porto 1-1 United
47': United deserve to be ahead. They started well, have passed the ball better than Porto and have looked solid at the back - Porto haven't really created a chance. That said, the home side were gathering momentum when Lucho got injured, the break in play as much as the enforced change interrupting their flow.
45': For United, Berbatov's ability to hold the ball is helping them ease pressure and allowing Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs - all of whom look lively - to get forward in support. Porto will be looking to get Hulk on the ball more than they have and to examine United in wide areas, especially on O'Shea's flank, although he has done well so far.
45': Television has just shown that Ronaldo's strike was from just shy of 40 yards. Ridiculous goal, and for tonight he is worth every last piece of preening smuggery.
46': Porto kick off and United attack immediately, but Berbatov's shot hits Helton. That seems to be what happens, he's not too hot at making saves.
47': It's raining in Porto more than in Buddy Holly's heart.
48': Meireles shoots and it's a little high.
49': Hulk shoots from distance and it clips his own player and goes plenty wide. Wasn't on target anyway.
51': Great jump from Evra but Rooney overruns the ball and looks like he didn't much fancy the tackle. Not one to shy away, he might still be feeling the knock he took in the first half.
51': Great ball from Giggs to Berbatov, but he's not quick enough to capitalise.
52': Giggs wrestled to the ground by Meireles.
53': Cissokho adjudged to have fouled Ronaldo. Free kick on the right, 40 yards from goal.
54': Giggs' kick easily held by Helton.
54': Rodriguez holds the ball and gives it to Lisandro, whose cross is headed by Mariano, sneaking between Vidic and Ferdinand, but he gets under it and the ball loops harmlessly to Van der Saar.
55': O'Shea found by Rooney whose cross is blocked, and United have a corner on the right.
56': Headed clear, Ronaldo out-jumped by Alves.
56': Carrick gives away a needless free kick in centrefield.
57': Giggs injudiciously passes the ball back to Van der Saar, creating a mini-panic and Evra concedes a free kick, hurting himself in the process. He is bleeding after bashing his head, but seems ok.
58': Porto free kick, 30 yards out, just right of centre. Good position, this.
59': Hulk hits it hard and over the wall, but straight at the keeper.
59': Rodriguez gets away from the huffing and puffing Carrick, but his shot from outside the area is wide.
60': Arsenal are now 2-0 up against Villareal.
61': Rooney crosses well and Alves is forced to head behind to stop Giggs getting to it. Corner from the left.
62': Helton scrambles away, ball goes back to Giggs, and he wins a throw.
62': Berbatov and Alves have a little tussle and it's a free kick to Porto.
63': Anderson pulled down by Lisandro. His athleticism has made a difference so far - in the first leg, Porto were able to run through the middle of the pitch in the knowledge that neither Carrick nor Scholes could keep up.
64': Second change for Porto - Rodriguez replaced by Farias.
64': United almost appear to be playing 4-3-3 now, with Giggs and Ronaldo either side of Berbato, with Rooney in midfield.
65': Good work from Ronaldo who finds Rooney, and he wins a corner.
66': Corner headed away, sent back in, brilliant control from Rooney on his chest, and he wins another corner.
67': Comes to nothing.
68': Good tackle from Vidic. He looks much more comfortable with Ferdinand back, although he's also received better protection than of late.
69': Nani on for Berbatov.
70': 3-1 to Arsenal, penalty from Van Persie.
70': Rooney has a chance to shoot, but dithers and is crowded out.
70': Good block by Fernando also.
70': Porto's kit looks a bit like a supermarket bag.
71': Great cross from Cissokho and superbly hooked away by Vidic.
71': Excellent challenge from Anderson who is subsequently fouled.
72': Mariano tries to go around the outside of Evra, but Evra is too quick.
73': United hesistate momentarily as the ball ricochets inside their area, but Vidic heads calmly back to Van der Saar.
73': Mariano crosses and Ferdinand clears - not very well - and the ball falls to Hulk, who gets to the line but his cross goes behind.
74': Anderson carelessly gives the ball away and Evra is foced to concede a corner, Porto's first. Rolando heads the cross behind running towards the near post.
76': After winning possession with help from Anderson, Nani gies the ball away, but Porto can't capitalise.
77': There's something about Nani that's very hittable.
77': In fact make that a several things.
78': Porto find Cissokho and Evra heads the cross behind.
78': Scholes replaces Anderson for United. He's done well.
79': Van der Saar comes for Meireles' cross, gets nowhere near, and Rolando heads over.
80': Ronaldo picks up a loose ball and Sapunaru does well to shepherd both him and the ball behind for a goal kick. Sapunarau replaced by Tomas Costa.
81': Scholes gives it away and Porto win a corner when Hulk's shot is blocked. Farias hooks the ball behind, but pressure is building.
83': Rooney has a shot from 25 yards out that isn't that far over the bar.
84': Rooney breaks and had he hit his pass properly Ronaldo was away, but he scuffs it and it's intercepted.
85': Mariano gets the ball on the right touchline in plenty of space, but his cross is well overhit.
85': Porto's best chance. Mariano skips past Nani and his low cross finds Lisandro but he goes for placement and it's right at Van der Saar. If he'd have hit it hard, it would have been a goal.
86': Nani does well to beat his man, but then normal service is resumed and he makes a mess.
87': Giggs wins a corner.
88': Headed clear, Nani sends it back into Giggs breaking into the aread and his cross is blocked. Corner again, and United will like this.
88': Corner headed clear to Nani on the edge, who volleys over.
89': Costa crosses well and Ferdinand gets the merest of touches to take it away.
89': Great play from Ronaldo, who's had a quieter second half, and he wastes time by holding possession and winning a throw.
90': Hulk on the ball on the left, looks up and hits his shot wide.
90': 3 added minutes.Porto send Alves forward.
90': Scholes is fouled on halfway and United send it wide to Nani.
91': Ronaldo cuts in from the left, shoots at the near post from 25 yards, and Helton gets down well to turn it behind.
92': Rooney wins a throw for United.
93': Porto launch it, Ferdinand misses his header but Vidic tidies up. And that's been the difference tonight - a centre back partnership.
93': FULL TIME: PORTO 0-UNITED 1
93': United were not brilliant tonight, but they were solid, composed and controlled, and they won with a moment of genius. Porto only really created one decent chance, and will be vexed that they didn't take advantage of their first leg superiority.
93': That said, it seems a little as though progression in this season's Champions League simply brings nearer an appointment for a hiding with Barca. Still, United won't mind - they've got away with it in this tie, although they showed good resilience. It seems as though the first leg performance is about as good as Porto get - they were nowhere near that level tonight.

Statistics

MAN		POR
17	Fouls	12
2	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
3	Offsides	0
9	Corner Kicks	3
3	Saves	3
52.6	Possession	47.4
11	SHOTS	17
4	ON GOAL	3
0.4	On Target %	0.2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
342	Accurate Passes	297
430	Passes	387
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.8
2	Accurate Crosses	7
22	Crosses	22
0.1	Cross %	0.3
57	Long Balls	40
26	Accurate Long Balls	22
0.5	Long Balls %	0.6
2	Blocked Shots	2
22	Effective Tackles	24
28	Tackles	33
0.8	Tackle %	0.7
0	Interceptions	0
27	Effective Clearances	11
50	Clearances	23

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Estádio do Dragão
Location: Porto, Portugal
Attendance: 50,000

Line-Ups

FC Porto

No.	Name
1	Helton (GK)
2	Bruno Alves
14	Rolando
28	Aly Cissokho
21	Cristian Sapunaru
25	Fernando
16	Raul Meireles
8	Lucho González
10	Cristian Rodríguez
12	Hulk
9	Lisandro López

FC Porto Substitutes:

Mariano González, Nuno Simões do Espírito Santo, Fredy Guarín, Andres Madrid, Milan Stepanov, Tomás Costa, Ernesto Farías.

Manchester United

No.	Name
1	Edwin van der Sar (GK)
15	Nemanja Vidic
5	Rio Ferdinand
3	Patrice Evra
22	John O'Shea
8	Anderson
16	Michael Carrick
11	Ryan Giggs
7	Cristiano Ronaldo
9	Dimitar Berbatov
10	Wayne Rooney

Manchester United Substitutes:

Nani, Federico Macheda, Ben Foster, Carlos Tevez, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans, Paul Scholes.

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