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Porto
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 20, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 

2-0

Aboubakar (37'), Brahimi (41')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Live Commentary: Porto 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv - as it happened

Relive all the action from Porto's 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in their Champions League clash at the Estadio do Dragao.
2

Porto and Maccabi Tel Aviv faced off at the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday in their Champions League clash.

Julen Lopetegui's men were unbeaten in their first two matches of the competition, having beaten Chelsea last time out. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv were looking for their first points of the campaign.

Porto continued their strong start to the tournament as goals from Vincent Aboubakar and Yacine Brahimi were enough to secure a comfortable 2-0 win over Slavisa Jokanovic's men.

Relive all the action from the clash in our live commentary below.


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Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Porto and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Porto have enjoyed a strong start to their campaign in Group G, having defeated Chelsea in their last match with a 2-1 victory over Jose Mourinho's men. Goals from Andre Andre and Maicon guided Julen Lopetegui's men to the victory to move them into second place in table on four points following their opening-game draw with Dynamo Kiev, meaning a win tonight would leave them in a very strong position to reach the knockout stage.

Tel Aviv are in dire need of a win this evening to attempt to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. The Israeli side were beaten 2-0 in their last match by Kiev and lost 4-0 to Chelsea in their opener to leave the bottom of Group G, staring down elimination from the competition.

Let's take a look at the two teams for this evening's clash.

PORTO STARTING XI: Casillas; Maxi, Marcano, Martins Indi, Layun; Neves, Andre, Imbula; Brahimi, Aboubakar, Corona
Subs: Helton, Evandro, Herrera, Danilo Osvaldo, Tello, Alberto Bueno

MACCABI TEL AVI STARTING XI: Rajkovic; Tibi, Ben Harush, Ben Haim, Carlos Garcia; Alberman, Zahavi, Miha, Mitrovic; Peretz, Ben Haim
Subs: Lifshitz, Ziv, Azulay, Rikan, Vermouth, Ben Basat, Itzhaki

Ruben Neves becomes the youngest captain in Champions League history by skippering Porto at the age of 18 this evening. Lopetegui makes just one change from his side's win over Belenenses at the weekend as Bruno Martins Indi comes into the lineup to replace Maicon. Neves, Andre Andre and Gianneli Imbula anchor the midfield, with Vincent Aboubakar leading line supported by Yacine Brahimi and Jesus Corona on the flanks.

Eran Zahavi spearheads the Maccabi attack this evening as his side are in desperate need od goal this evening. Dor Miha and Tal Ben Haim II operate on the wings as the visitors match up with Porto's 4-3-3 formation. Tal Ben Haim I and Carlos Garcia anchor the defence, with Gal Alberham protecting the back four.

Lopetegui has insisted that his side face a big test this evening, despite Maccabi's poor start to the campaign.

He told reporters: "I don't consider Maccabi the weakest team in the group – I think of them as our main challenge. They have very good players and have deserved more from the matches they have played so far in the competition.

"We are going to need the atmosphere to be that special Champions League atmosphere that only our fans can produce."


The players are out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

KICKOFF! We're underway at the Estadio do Dragao.

Earl opening for the visitors as Ben Haim feeds the run of Miha who takes the ball to the edge of the box and fires at goal, but his shot is well blocked by Marcano.

Porto come back with a raid down of their own down the right as Corona tries to beat the ball before it runs out of play from a pass from Maxi Pereira, but his low cross slams into the side-netting.

CHANCE! Brahimi drives at the Tel Aviv defence and the ball deflects behind for a corner. Layun whips the ball in from the left and Aboubakar peels off his marker at the back post. However, he can only direct his free header into the arms of Rajkovic.

Corona makes another darting run down the right, but Carlos Garcia does well to react to the danger in the inside channel by coming across to make a sliding tackle to send the ball out for a corner.

Neves lifts the corner in from the right and Aboubakar goes up for the ball and directs it into the path of Andre Andre, but his shot gets blocked by Ben Haim and Rajkovic is able to gather.

Porto come forward in numbers down the right as Maccabi are unable to deal with the threat of Coronoa down the flank. Andre Andre collects the winger's pass and lays the ball into the path of Neves, but his strike is deflected behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Pereira does well to beat two challenges and sends a dipping cross to the back post for the run of Aboubakar. The striker has a yard on his marker and strikes the ball towards goal, but he scuffs his effort and Rajkovic is able to make the save with ease.

PENALTY SHOUT! A huge opening for the visitors down the right as Ben Haim II skips past two defenders and into the box. The winger opts against shooting on his left foot and tries to go past Martins Indi, but he gets brought down by the Dutchman. Ben Haim II wants a penalty, but the referee remains unmoved. However, there is still an opening for Peretz on the follow-up, although his shot goes wide of the post.

Miha takes the ball down the left flank and tries to send a low ball into the path of Zahavi in the middle. The ball does not find its target, although a mistake in the Porto backline almost allows it to travel into the path of Ben Haim II, but Marcano reacts quickly to clear the danger.

Maccabi work the ball well in the final third, but their attacking moves are stopped by two long-range efforts first from Zahavi as he sends a speculative shot over the bar. Peretz follows suit one minute later by blasting his strike over the bar with teammates in space around him to keep the move alive.

YELLOW CARD! Corona goes into the book for a challenge on Ben Haim II, presenting a chance for the visitors from 35 yards from a free kick.

Zahavi goes for the blast from the set piece, but his strike cannons into the wall and Porto clear the danger.

CHANCE! Aboubakar has a glorious chance to put the home side ahead as he latches on to Layun's cross into the box from the left. The forward peels off Ben Haim and tries to direct the ball with his left foot into the corner, only to see his strike drift wide of the post. Aboubakar was off balance when he made contact, but he should have found the net.

Pereira sends another cross into the penalty area from the right and again Aboubakar peels off his man at the back post, but on this occasion he gets flagged for being offside. A frustrating start to the match for Lopetegui's men.

YELLOW CARD! Miha is booked for a late challenge on Imbula, giving Porto a free kick just past the half-way line.

Aboubakar tries to latch on to Neves's lofted pass into the box, but he can only make glancing contact with his header under pressure from Carlos Garcia and it allows Rajkovic to collect.

CHANCE! Imbula collects the ball and drives forward to send a cross towards the back post for Corona to attack. Ben Haim does just enough to edge the winger out of the header, but Pereira smashes the ball at goal, only to be denied by a block by Ben Harush. Maccabi then manage to scramble the ball away.

GOAL! Porto 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (Aboubakar)

Porto take the lead and Aboubakar is on the scoresheet at last as he heads the ball past Rajkovic, who could not react in time to divert his effort away from goal. The strike came from a pinpoint cross from Layun on the left and the Cameroon forward peeled off Garcia at the back post to power his header into the net. Deserved lead for the home side.

GOAL! Porto 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (Brahimi)

Just like that Porto double their lead as Aboubakar turns provider to release the run of Brahimi, and the winger takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet and into the box before slotting his strike into the bottom corner. Brahimi looked to be a fraction offside, but the linesman may have given him the benefit of the doubt to allow him to double his side's advantage.

CHANCE! Zahavi attempts a spectacular overhead kick to try to get his side back into the game before the break and he makes good contact from Miha's cross. However, the ball sails just past the post, although Casillas did not look to have his angles covered, so fortunately for the Spaniard the forward's effort travelled wide.

Brahimi threatens again for the home side as he latches on to a pass from Andre Andre, but he gets dispossesed just when he was about to pull the trigger. The winger appeals for a penalty, but he is alone in his claims as the the referee points for a corner.

HALF-TIME: Porto 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Porto take a 2-0 lead into the break following a dominant performance in the first half from Julen Lopetegui's men. The home side were rarely troubled by Tel Aviv and were patiently biding their time for the opening to take the lead. Miguel Layun produced the quality delivery needed from the flank to pick out Vincent Aboubakar at the back post to head home. The Cameroon striker then turned provider for Yacine Brahimi with a through ball and the Frenchman made no mistake by slotting his effort into the bottom corner.

UPDATE! The other match in Group G is goalless at the break between Chelsea and Dynamo Kiev. Check out our half-time report on the match here.

Aboubakar's strike in the first half was his third in the competition this season. The Cameroon forward is building a strong reputation for himself, which catch the attention of Premier League and La Liga clubs in the near future.

The players are back out for the second half so we should be underway shortly.

RESTART! We're back underway at the Estadio do Dragao.

Zahavi raids into space down the right wing and has no support in the box, so he decides to take a shot on from a tight angle, which does not work out the way he planned as it sails over the crossbar.

Andre Andre makes a surge towards the box after collecting a pass from Corona down the right, but he gets brought down right on the edge of the box by Ben Harush. A good opportunity for the home side as Neves stands over the ball.

Neves sends his delivery to the near post, but the visitors clear the danger with ease. Not the best cross from the 18-year-old.

SUBSTITUTION: Corona comes off for the home side and is replaced by Tello.

Ben Haim II drives forward and has Marcano and Martins Indi backtracking into their own box. The Maccabi winger has support on the right from Zahavi, but he chooses to go alone, and gets crowded out as Marcano clears the danger.

SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make a change as Rikan replaces Mitrovic.

Pereira gives away a foul down the right for the home side for a poor challenge on Ben Harush. However, the delivery from Miha is poor and allows Porto to clear the ball into the box with ease. Maccabi are not going to get back into the match with set pieces like that one.

Andre Andre makes a promising burst forward and has options as Brahimi and Aboubakar make runs to the side of him. However, the midfielder chooses to go alone and fires a strike over the bar. Wasteful from the midfielder.

CHANCE! Miha does well to take the ball past Imbula and Danilo in the middle and he finds Rikan 25 yards from goal. The midielder takes the shot on the volley with a first-time strike, and his effort goes inches past the post with Casillas diving to his left. That's as close as the visitors have come this evening.

Rikan threatens again for the visitors as he collects a loose ball on the edge of the box and creates an opening for a drive, but he sends his strike over the bar.

OFF THE POST! Porto come within inches of notching a third goal as Tello bursts past his man down the left wing and sends a low ball across the face of goal. Ben Haim reacts to stop the ball from reaching Aboubakar by sticking out his leg, but it travels towards goal and the defender is only saved when it rattles off the post.

CHANCE! Porto should have wrapped this game up as Aboubakar somehow misses the target from two yards. It may be one of the worst misses seen in the competition this season or for the past 10 years as he latches on to Neves's cross at the back post and strikes the ball first time with the goal gaping. However, his strike sails over the bar. Incredible miss!

SUBSTITUTION: Miha goes off for the visitors to be replaced by Vermouth.

CHANCE! Ben Haim II takes on Layun down the left and the winger beat the full-back to send a low ball across the face of goal to Zahavi. The forward gets ahead of Martins Indi, but cannot make contact as the ball flashes in front of the goalline. A warning for the home side that this game is not secure yet.

YELLOW CARD! Ben Haim II goes into the book for bringing down Andre Andre as he looked to break upfield.

CHANCE! Pereira should make it 3-0 as Porto work the ball extremely well in the final third between Danilo and Brahimi to allow the full-back a shooting chance inside the box, but he drills his strike just over the bar.

Brahimi raids well down the right for the home side and cuts the ball back to Neves. The midfielder opts against shooting first time and takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet, but his shot is deflected over the bar by Garcia.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Ben Haim II comes off for the visitors and is replaced by Itzhaki, while Herrera comes on for the home side in place of Brahimi.

The first impact of Herrera in the game is negative as he gives a foul away just outside the box by bringing down Alberman. A goal from this set piece could make matters interesting.

CHANCE! Zahavi curls his effort over the wall and towards the bottom corner, but Casillas manages to get down low to palm the ball away from goal.

CHANCE! Tello has the opportunity to secure the match as he breaks upfield by himself. The winger gets forced out wide by Ben Haim, but he still manages to force an effort at goal. However, it just lacks the curl to find the corner and the visitors clear the danger.

There will be four minutes of added time.

YELLOW CARD! Garcia goes into the book for a challenge from behind on Aboubakar, presenting Porto with a chance to add to the scorline from a free kick 30 yards from goal.

Tello's strike from the free kick hits the wall and the visitors clear the danger. Porto seem content to sit on their lead by keeping possession for the final two minutes of the match.

CHANCE! One final effort from Tello as he skips inside on the right flank and sends a low effort towards the bottom corner, but his strike creeps just wide of the post.

FULL-TIME: Porto 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Porto secure a comfortable 2-0 victory this evening as first-half strikes from Vincent Aboubakar and Yacine Brahimi are enough to guide them past Maccabi Tel Aviv this evening. Julen Lopetegui's men move to the top of Group G with seven points from their opening three games and are in a very strong position to reach the knockout stage of the competition. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv's hopes are all but over as they remain pointless at the bottom of the table.

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening, until next time, goodbye.

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