Chelsea yapigwa na Porto bao 2-1
Porto 2-1 Chelsea: Jose Mourinho has unhappy return to former stomping ground as Blues fall to Champions League defeat
- Porto's Andre Andre opened the scoring in the 39th minute with close-range finish past keeper Asmir Begovic
- Chelsea attacking midfielder Willian scored with a free-kick shortly before half-time interval to level the score
- Porto captain Maicon delivered the winner from a corner just seven minutes into the second half at Dragao Stadium
- Nervous and low on confidence, Chelsea's slump was epitomised by defender Branislav Ivanovic, who was tormented by the man of the match Yacine Brahimi
The
warnings from Jose Mourinho were loud and clear. Stars on the bench,
stars left in London and still Chelsea were unable to stop their star
from falling a little further.
Mourinho
blamed attitude ahead of the game, but it was not a problem of desire
in Porto, where they were outclassed at times and flattered by the
result.
They
were not awful for the entire game – there was a flurry in
stoppage-time - but they were unrecognisable from the champions of last
season, that imperious winning machine, built in Mourinho's ruthless
image.
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Brazilian defender Maicon celebrates after scoring what would be the winner for Porto against Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium
The Porto captain jumps for joy in
front of the home fans after putting his side back in front during the
Champions League Group G clash
Porto's Andre Andre leaps after opening the scoring on Tuesday night against the west London giants in the 39th minute
Chelsea attacking midfielder Willian slides after cancelling out Andre's strike with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time
Cesc Fabregas (right) and Diego Costa
(centre) stand disappointed ahead of the restart after Maicon (left)
clinched maximum points
Chelsea were unlucky not to receive a penalty during the closing stages of the match as Ivan Marcano's left arm struck the ball
Chelsea custodian and Bosnia international Asmir Begovic is unable to stop Portuguese midfielder Andre from burying his shot
Chelsea slipped down to third spot in Group G as Dynamo Kyiv picked up all three points with a 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv
Andre finished off a fine move to open the scoring in the 39th minute - click HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone service
Casillas
saved again from Pedro as Chelsea broke quickly. It was Costa again who
carried the ball, before Willian slid a pass to Pedro but for the
second time in quick succession a former Barcelona player was denied by a
Real Madrid legend.
At
the back, Chelsea started sloppily and got worse. Porto moved fluently
forward with the ball through a midfield, energised by a noisy home
crowd and encouraged by casual marking and hurried clearances.
They
seemed anxious. Others were dropped but Ivanovic remains in the team.
Not only that, he is the captain, and yet badly out of touch and perhaps
trying too hard to make amends.
Spanish
referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, said to be Mourinho’s favourite, stirred
Porto fans when he allowed a shuddering tackle by Ivanovic on Vincent
Aboubakar to go unpunished.
And,
as the decibels increased, the home side grew in stature. Aboubakar and
Maxi Pereira fired wide and they took the lead six minutes before the
interval.
Brahimi
skipped past Ivanovic into the penalty box and forced Begovic to parry.
Andre seized on the rebound and his volley had enough power to force
its way past the goalkeeper.
As
in Newcastle, on Saturday, it was a combination of Ramires and Willian
which hauled Chelsea level. A burst from Ramires drew a foul and Willian
curled the free-kick inside the post.
Casillas
barely flinched as it whipped into his net, but Chelsea surrendered the
impetus when Maicon slipped free to convert a corner with a glancing
header at the near post. Again, the set-piece had been conceded after
Brahimi had given Ivanovic the slip.
The
Dragao Stadium was still jumping with joy when Costa swung an
improbable effort against the bar. On came Hazard, Kenedy and Matic but
Porto pushed for a third. Begovic saved and Gary Cahill blocked as the
visitors resisted.
Ivanovic
went close with a header and Costa had a good claim for a penalty for
handball, but even Mourinho’s friendly referee did not oblige.
Willian strikes his free-kick sweetly
to score his third free-kick in as many games to level the match at 1-1
just before the break
Willian (left) is congratulated by his Chelsea team-mates as his impressive goalscoring run continues
As
in Newcastle, on Saturday, it was a combination of Ramires and Willian
which hauled Chelsea level. A burst from Ramires won a free-kick 25
yards from goal and Willian stepped up to curl it over the wall and
inside the post.
Casillas
did not move as it whipped past into his net. It was the last kick of
the first-half and it offered hope to the visitors as they disappeared
down the tunnel.
For
Willian it was his third goal in three games, all from free-kicks, but
Porto were soon back in front when Maicon slipped his markers to convert
a corner with a glancing header at the near post. Again, the corner had
been conceded after Brahimi had given Ivanovic the slip.
Chelsea
were stunned but the Dragao erupted in a frenzy of celebration. Porto
fans were still bouncing with joy when Cesar Azpilicueta swung an
improbable effort against the bar from long-range.
As Hazard, Kenedy and Matic came on, Porto pushed for a third. Begovic saved and Gary Cahill blocked as the visitors resisted.
Ivanovic
went close with a header and Costa claimed a penalty for handball in
stoppage time, but even Mourinho's favourite referee did not oblige.
The final chance fell to Kenedy but it was deflected wide.
Captain Maicon goes wild after scoring from a corner in the 52nd minute, a set-piece goal that will infuriate Mourinho
Maicon makes a heart shape with his hands as he celebrates his all-important winning goal against Mourinho's side
Goalkeeper Begovic, who continues to
deputise for the injured Thibaut Courtois, looks disappointed after
conceding the second goal
Chelsea centre back Gary Cahill looks dismayed after failing to stop his side from conceding a second goal in Portugal
Jose Mourinho reacts after Porto snag their second goal and ultimately the three points on Tuesday night
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui barks out
instructions to his players during his side's narrow 2-1 win over the
Premier League champions
Mourinho decided to leave captain John Terry, defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic and star playmaker Eden Hazard on the bench
The Portuguese tactician cuts a lonely figure as he sits on the bench on his own during the half-time break of the Group G clash
Algeria international Yacine Brahimi
put in a man-of-the-match display against Chelsea by dictating play from
Porto's engine room
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker
Casillas, who played under Mourinho in Spain, celebrates his side's win
after the final whistle
Casillas consoles fellow Spain international Costa after the result ended in defeat for the struggling Premier League outfit
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma gathers his thoughts as he reflects on his side's 2-1 Champions League loss at the hands of Porto
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