Porto Stun Bayern as Suarez Double Sinks PSG

Porto Stun Bayern as Suarez Double Sinks PSG

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 10:07 pm


Ricardo Quaresma scored twice as FC Porto stunned 2013 European champions Bayern Munich 3-1 in a UEFA Champions League first leg quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.

Same result was achieved by Barcelona, with Luis Suarez scoring twice as well in a ruthless display that saw Paris St. Germain beaten in another quarterfinal clash at the Parc des Princes.

At the Estadio Dragao, Bayern faced Porto deplete of a number of key players; including Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, but the Bavarians were the masterminds of their downfall nonetheless.

And coming up against a Porto side that remains the only club still unbeaten in this season’s Champions League, Bayern were outclassed by the 2004 champions.

It took just two minutes for Porto to take the lead through Quaresma, who sent Manuel Neuer the wrong with a penalty conceded after Jackson Martinez dispossessed Xabo Alonso on the edge of the area before being brought down by Neuer.

Another lapse in concentration from Bayern saw defender Dante lose the bal to Quaresma, who went on to double Porto’s lead after 10 minutes.

It was the only the second time Bayern had conceded two goals in the opening 10 minutes of a Champions League match, as Porto threatened to run riot.

Pep Guardiola’s side however rallied and pulled a goal back through Thiago Alcantara who converted a ball in from Jerome Boateng after 27 minutes.

Porto though regained control of proceedings and almost restored their two-goal lead just before half-time, with a cross from Alex Sandro fumbled onto the crossbar by Neuer who eventually smothered the ball at the second attempt.

Neuer had to be alert again to keep out a goal-bound deflection off teammate Boateng early in the second half, but Porto would eventually restore the two-goal lead midway through the second half.

Boateng misjudged the flight of a cross into the Bayern area, allowing Martinez to control and round Neuer before slotting in to seal an emphatic win for Porto.

Unlike Bayern, Barcelona put one foot into the last four courtesy of a 3-1 win at PSG in a match that saw Luis Suarez embarrass the French champions’ back line.

Messi had come close to giving Barça a 14th minute lead when Suarez picked up a loose ball and released the Argentine, whose powerful curling effort crashed off the PSG post.

Barcelona did break the deadlock four minutes later through Neymar who received a pass from Messi before sending a powerful shot past Salvatore Sirigu.

PSG lost captain Thiago Silva to an injury moments later, replaced by Brazilian compatriot David Luiz who himself has just recovered from a hamstring injury.

Neymar went close again for Barça midway through the first half while Cavani, starting in place of a suspended Zlatan Ibrahimović, squandered good scoring opportunities with a poor first touch along with playing offside as Barça went into the break a goal up.

PSG began the second half with more intent as Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot tested Marc Andre Ter-Stergen in the Barça goal, while Cavani produced another poor first touch on the hour mark to see another scoring chance go begging.

The French side’s profligacy would be punished, as Suarez made it 2-0 to Barça after 67 minutes before a moment of magic from the Uruguayan put the Catalan giants 3-0 up after 79 minutes.

A Rakitic pass left Suarez with a half-fit Luiz to beat, which he did with a nutmeg before picking his spot and beating Sirigu with a fierce curling shot into the top corner.

PSG pulled a consolation goal back late on when a Gregory van der Wiel shot was deflected into goal by Jeremy Mathieu, but the night belonged to Barcelona and Suarez.


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