Porto snatch crucial win

Porto snatched a 2-0 victory at Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Group G to keep alive their hopes.

Win keeps hopes of qualification alive for Porto

Porto snatched a 2-0 victory at Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Group G to set up a crunch clash with Zenit St Petersburg for a place in the last 16. The hosts twice hit the woodwork before being undone by Hulk's strike on 79 minutes before Razvan Rat put through his own net in injury-time. It meant any hopes of Shakhtar reaching even the Europa League disappeared, while Porto will need to beat Zenit at home to claim the second qualification spot to the knockout stages from Group G alongside APOEL Nicosia.

Fired

In the opening moments, Luiz Adriano should have done better when he fired straight at Porto goalkeeper Helton from the edge of the box. Shakhtar stopper Olexandr Rybka did well to keep out Hulk's shot on the line as the match got under way at a frantic pace. In the 10th minute Vasili Kobin crossed well for Willian but his shot was easy for Helton. Shakhtar came agonisingly close in the 19th minute, when Eduardo played in Adriano, who beat Rolando before smashing the ball against the post. The efforts were slightly less convincing from Porto, as Joao Moutinho's speculative effort was comfortably dealt with by Rybka and Hulk shot wide after cutting in from the right.

Disappointing

Hulk produced another disappointing strike just after the half-hour while, at the other end, Olexander Kucher's opportunistic overhead kick went wide. Despite being played at a good pace with some neat touches here and there, there were few chances as the half progressed. And, aside from a Luiz Adriano strike two minutes after the restart which was comfortably held by Helton, that pattern continued in the early stages of the second period. Indeed, it was not until the 69th minute when Porto finally threatened, when Hulk's blast was saved at the near post by Rybka and Alvaro Pereira fired wide moments later.

Shot

It was Shakhtar though who again went within inches of scoring when, in the 73rd minute, Fernandinho's bobbling shot was turned onto the post by Helton. It was the second time they had hit the woodwork and Porto made them pay. Moutinho was the architect, playing a fine through-ball for Hulk - who knocked the ball past Rybka and into the net to leave the hosts stunned. A miserable night was completed for the hosts when Rat put the ball into his own net when trying to clear in stoppage time.

Shakhtar Donetsk	Team Statistics	FC Porto
0	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	0
7	Shots on Target	6
4	Shots off Target	6
3	Blocked Shots	4
9	Corners	5
15	Fouls	17
2	Offsides	0
3	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
80.4	Passing Success	71.7
19	Tackles	29
84.2	Tackles Success	89.7
58.3	Possession	41.7
42.8	Territorial Advantage	57.2
547	Total Passes	389
18	Total Crosses	15
178	Lost Balls	178
74	Recoveries	74