Chelsea fall to Porto defeat as Maicon winner ruins Jose Mourinho's return
Jose Mourinho's return to former club Porto ended in a 2-1 Champions League defeat as Chelsea's miserable start to the season continued.
Chelsea lost to Porto on Mourinho's first return in 2004-05, and history repeated itself at Estadio do Dragao as Andre Andre and Maicon scored either side of Willian's free-kick in the Group G clash.
Eden Hazard dropped to the substitutes bench alongside captain John Terry and Nemanja Matic as Mourinho proved there were no untouchables in his squad.
His hardline...
Porto 2 Chelsea 1: Andre and Maicon ensure unhappy return for Mourinho
Goals by Andre Andre and Maicon either side of a sumptuous Willian free-kick gave Porto a 2-1 win over Chelsea in Champions League Group G.
Porto captain Maicon headed a decisive second-half goal to give Porto a 2-1 Champions League win and extend Chelsea's laboured start to the season.
Julen Lopetegui's side were offered encouragement throughout the Group G clash by the defensive frailties that have undermined Chelsea over the past two months and opened the scoring at the Estadio do Dragao through Andre Andre.
Willian – recalled to the starting line-up following his weekend equaliser against Newcastle United, as Jose Mourinho benched Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic – levelled matters with a brilliant free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
But, as they did at St James' Park on Saturday, Chelsea switched off and Maicon capitalised in the 52nd minute to ensure a miserable return to his old stomping ground for Mourinho.
The margin of victory could have been greater as Danilo headed against the post inside the final 10 minute, while the result moves Porto onto four points alongside Dynamo Kiev – one ahead of Chelsea.
Iker Casillas set a Champions League record by making his 152nd appearance in the competition and the Porto goalkeeper was called into action early on.
Diego Costa, performing at his menacing best in the midst of a domestic suspension, left defenders in his wake down the left and found Cesc Fabregas, only for Casillas to save plunging to his right.
The ex-Real Madrid captain came out on top in another all-Spanish duel in the 14th minute – saving with his feet from Pedro, who charged onto Willian's crisp pass.
Some uncertain Chelsea defending ended with Vincent Aboubakar, who scored both Porto's goals in their opening 2-2 draw at Dynamo Kiev, lashing wildly over.
Full-back Maxi Pereira produced some more wayward shooting for Porto, but the sense of defensive vulnerability surrounding Chelsea was confirmed when they fell behind six minutes before the break.
Yacine Brahimi cut inside from the left past Branislav Ivanovic to draw a brilliant save from Asmir Begovic, who could not keep out Andre's volleyed follow-up.
It was all square from the final, stunning kick of the first-half – William fizzing a wonderful free-kick over the defensive wall and across a statuesque Casillas.
Costa won the foul for the equaliser and combined with Willian to have a 48th-minute attempt deflected wide before Chelsea fell behind again.
Brahimi skipped around Ivanovic again to win a corner and Maicon peeled off the Chelsea goalline to send a clever back header beyond Begovic at the near post from Ruben Neves' delivery.
There was more rough treatment for Ivanovic at the hands of Brahimi, although the Serbian recovered to make a vital block on his tormentor, before Chelsea failed to fully clear and Neves had a deflected attempt headed away from the goalmouth by Kurt Zouma.
Mourinho sent on Hazard in place of John Obi Mikel in the 62nd minute and he was quickly into the action – collecting Pedro's pass and hurdling Maicon's lunging challenge to shoot in to the side netting.
But Chelsea's problems at the other end showed no sign of abating.
Begovic kept out a stinging drive by Giannelli Imbula in the 70th minute and the ball barely left the visiting penalty area during a sustained assault that culminated in Brahimi skipping past Ramires and missing out on the goal he deserved.
Ivanovic passed up a headed set-piece opportunity and Danilo went even closer in the 82nd minute, setting up a frantic period of stoppage time where Porto's defence managed to scramble to safety and deny the tireless Costa at the death.
Chelsea's poor start to the season continued as they were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.
Andre Andre gave Porto the lead, volleying in after Asmir Begovic pushed away Yacine Brahimi's effort.
Midfielder Willian equalised on the stroke of half-time, with a superb free-kick from the edge of the area.
Maicon put the home side ahead again with a flicked header at the front post, as Diego Costa rattled the bar with a curling shot in the second half.
- Chelsea's poor start to the season continued as they were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.Andre Andre gave Porto the lead, volleying in after Asmir Begovic pushed away Yacine Brahimi's effort.Midfielder Willian equalised on the stroke of half-time, with a superb free-kick from the edge of the area.Maicon put the home side ahead again with a flicked header at the front post, before Diego Costa rattled the bar with a curling shot.
- Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas and Pedro both forced Spain team-mate Iker Casillas - making a record 152nd appearance in the competition - into saves early on.But despite their early pressure, and a late penalty claim for a handball by Ivan Marcano, they came away from the Estadio do Dragao with nothing.
Problems at the back
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sprung a surprise before kick-off, leaving out last year's PFA player of the year Eden Hazard, who has struggled for form this season. On-loan striker Radamel Falcao failed to even make the bench against his old side.Meanwhile, Brazilian duo Willian and Ramires - who both came on and scored against Newcastle at the weekend - were named in the starting side, as was striker Diego Costa, currently serving a domestic suspension.But it was in defence that the Blues looked to have the biggest problems when the Portuguese league leaders went ahead six minutes before half-time. Full-back Branislav Ivanovic was too easily beaten by Algerian Brahimi in the lead-up to Andre's goal.Mourinho described his side's first-half performance against the Magpies as "minus one out of 10" and this tie looked to be heading the same away until Willian levelled with a curling free-kick.Chelsea have conceded the second most goals (14) in the Premier League this season, and Jolen Lopetegui's men underlined their problems at the back as Maicon lost his marker to reach a near-post corner and head past Begovic's front post. Giannelli Imbula also hit the post from another set piece.Mourinho magic wearing off?
Toiling in 15th place in the defence of their Premier League title, eight points behind leaders Manchester United, Mourinho's side have now suffered five defeats in 11 games across all competitions this season.Having easily beaten Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in their opening group game, as the Portuguese chases a third win in the competition he first won as Porto boss in 2004, Chelsea might have taken a point from a hardworking Porto side - but they could count themselves unfortunate at times, as they saw efforts either hit the woodwork or deflected wide, while Marcano appeared to handle the ball in the area.Man of the match - Yacine Brahimi
MATCH STATISTICS
More to follow.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (7) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
FC Porto
- 12 Casillas
- 02 Maxi Pereira
- 04 Maicon
- 05 Marcano Sierra Booked
- 03 Martins Indi Booked
- 20 Brás André (Layun - 80' )
- 22 Hélio Pereira Booked
- 06 da Silva Neves (Goebel - 78' )
- 25 Imbula Booked
- 08 Brahimi (Osvaldo - 87' )
- 09 Aboubakar
Substitutes
- 01 Helton
- 10 Osvaldo
- 11 Tello
- 15 Goebel
- 17 Corona
- 21 Layun
- 23 Bueno
Chelsea
- 01 Begovic
- 02 Ivanovic
- 05 Zouma
- 24 Cahill Booked
- 28 Azpilicueta Booked
- 07 Ramires (Matic - 73' Booked )
- 12 Mikel (Hazard - 62' )
- 17 Pedro (Nunes do Nascimento - 73' )
- 04 Fàbregas
- 22 Willian
- 19 Diego Costa
Substitutes
- 06 Baba
- 10 Hazard
- 16 Nunes do Nascimento
- 21 Matic
- 26 Terry
- 27 Blackman
- 36 Loftus-Cheek
Ref: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário