To the Beer Cup & Beyond!
Wednesday wasn’t your average day for FC Porto as they faced their Carlsberg Cup semi-final match against Academica at the Dragão. The match would not be a normal one for the Champions as Jesualdo Ferreira used the 4-4-2 model, that he rarely uses, and only would play three regulars, Bruno Alves, Alvaro Pereira, and Mariano. Coming into the match the Champions had the most to gain in a win as rivals Benfica had put Sporting to bed the previous evening in a 4-1 romping at the Alvalade and had secured their seat in the cup final.
Heading into the match tonight Porto were without Raul Meireles, Cristian Rodriguez, Fucile and Farías (injured), and without Hulk (suspended). Academica faced a similar problem as they were without Paulo Sérgio, Bruno Amaro, Miguel Fidalgo, & Éder. Academica coach Andre Vilas Boas however could not complain about not having support with around 1,500 fans in the stands today. While Academica was not able to put the Dragons down tonight they have caused issues for the Dragons in two previous matches, winning 3-2 in the league at the Dragão and also playing out a 0-0 draw with them in the 3rd phase of the Carlsberg Cup.
The first half would begin on a very unlikely foot as Academica commanded the pitch, setting up chances to score early in the first few minutes of the match. FC Porto would reveal difficulties in transitions, with multiple passes wrong early in the match. Porto however, would get a break early in the match as Bruno Alves scored a beautiful header that would later be disallowed by the official. “I think it is the fifth goal disallowed against FC Porto,” lamented Ferreira, in a brief interview to SIC after the game. The Dragons would struggle the rest of the first half, losing possession over and over again. Alvaro Pereira would pick up a yellow card in the 26th minute much to the displeasure of the Uruguayan and his coach a like. The match would become just one of countless matches over the past few weeks that has seen bad calls from linesmen and referees a like, most calls being bad offside calls.
Going into halftime Porto had already seen Pedro Proença cancel wrongly a goal by Bruno Alves for allegedly being offside. However, the Dragons had shown some dislocation in the midfield, looking ahead to the entrance of Ruben Micael. Academica had created danger for Nuno at the Porto goal, but lacked the will to put the ball into the back of the net. Jesualdo Ferreira would use halftime to make a change on the pitch with Fernando Belluschi exiting and Silvestre Varela coming on. While the first few minutes of the second half proved to be a bit tough for the blue and white they would regroup and begin to make trouble for Academica’s keeper Ricardo.
With 53% of possession Porto would try their luck at charging at the goal, a few shots from Orlando Sa and Freddy Guarin missing the goal. With the arrival of the 61st minute would also come another change to the Porto lineup with Bruno Alves leaving the pitch with knee complaints and Maicon entering for him. The captain could be seen getting an ice pack applied to his knee on the bench. Mariano would receive the captain’s armband before the match would carry on. The 64th minute would bring about the Dragon’s final substitution as Diego Valeri would come off and Ruben Micael would come on. The 69th minute would bring about a good chance for the Dragons as Mariano sent a ball up the right to Miguel Lopes who would cross the ball into Orlando Sa, but unfortunately the Portuguese’s shot would be too weak and would go into the arms of Academica’s keeper Ricardo.
It would not be until the 82nd minute that the Dragons would take force of the match as Mariano would score a beautiful left footer from the edge of the area into the top corner of the goal past Ricardo. The Porto fans who had grown a bit quiet came to life again singing over the Academica supporters in the crowd. Academica would have to more chances to score before the match was over but unfortunately would not be able to capitalize on the 4 minutes of added time to the end of the match. The win would secure Porto’s place in the Carlsberg Cup Final against rivals Benfica on the 20th of March.
On the evening of the match the only thing Ferreira asks of the supporters is for those who can travel the 600km to the match to be in attendance on the 20th of March.
Taça da Liga, meias-finais
10 de Fevereiro de 2010
Estádio do Dragão, no Porto
Assistência: 22.702 espectadores
Árbitro: Pedro Proença (Lisboa)
Assistentes: Tiago Trigo e André Campos
4º Árbitro: Vasco Santos
FC PORTO: Nuno; Miguel Lopes, Nuno André Coelho, Bruno Alves «cap» e Alvaro Pereira; Tomás Costa, Belluschi, Guarín e Valeri; Mariano e Orlando Sá
Substituições: Belluschi por Varela (46m), Bruno Alves por Maicon (60m) e Valeri por Ruben Micael (64m)
Não utilizados: Beto, Falcao, Addy e Claro
Treinador: Jesualdo Ferreira
ACADÉMICA: Ricardo; Pedrinho, Berger, Orlando «cap» e Emídio Rafael; Nuno Coelho, Tiero e Diogo Gomes; Sougou, Vouho e João Ribeiro
Substituições: Sougou por Lito (69m), Berger por Cris (84m)
Não utilizados: Rui Nereu, Amoreirinha, Bru e Helder Cabral
Treinador: André Villas Boas
Ao intervalo: 0-0
Marcador: Mariano (81m)
Disciplina: cartão amarelo a Alvaro Pereira (26m), Vouho (45m), Guarín (56m), João Ribeiro (80m), Ricardo (90m), Pedrinho (90m)
