FC Porto had to lose, but the Mexican international avoided the snub in the time of compensation. Benfica can take advantage of the rival’s tie to reduce distances.
FC Porto drew on Friday at Moreirense (1-1) in a game related to the 21st round of the I Liga. The dragons lose points for the second straight round, after the draw in Guimarães, and can see Benfica approaching the lead. Still, the dragons were always at the margin of a vantage point.
Game
The first half registered a balanced duel. Moreirense fulfilled what Ivo Vieira had promised the day before and he appeared in the field with eyes on the goal of FC Porto. For his part, Sérgio Conceição turned to a 4x3x3 to try to bridge the absence of Marega, which, under normal conditions, causes the team to play in 4x4x2.
Danilo entered that way at eleven and formed a pair with Óliver in midfield, while Herrera was the most advanced blue and white middle on the field. However, the dragons showed clear difficulties in circulating the ball and appeared to accuse the lack of the Malian international.
Moreirense also pressed hard and always tried to take advantage of the speed of Heriberto, fast player that was always the target of the closed marking of Éder Militão.
The two teams balanced the game and it was without surprises that the result until the interval remained unchanged.
In the second half, the problems of FC Porto remained the same and Sérgio Conceição took action. The coach portista launched Fernando Andrade and Otávio and removed Pepe and Óliver. Militão returned to the axis, Corona was on the right side and FC Porto adopted the usual 4x4x2.
The FC Porto team improved with the return to the tactical system most used during the season, but continued to feel difficulties in reaching the last zone of the ground before a Moreirense, say, very well organized defensively and with discretion when leaving the ramp up.
Conceição returned to stir, launched Andre Pereira to the place of Brahimi, but it was Moreirense who arrived at the goal. After a corner, in the 79th minute, David Texeira beat Iker Casillas and launched the party in Moreira de Cónegos.
In the face of the canon’s goal, FC Porto began to climb lines in search of a draw. Already on the rebates of the match, Otávio discovered Herrera who threw to the back of the net. The Mexican made it the goal of the tie and fixed the final result.
Moment of the game: Herrera scored at the right time. When Moreirense fans celebrated a possible victory, the Mexican scored the equalizer and avoided the snub in Moreira de Cónegos.