Porto 3-1 Bayern Munich: Porto Earns A Surprising Victory

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Porto put themselves firmly in the driving seat after recording a surprise 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday.

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A Ricardo Quaresma double in the opening ten minutes, before Thiago Alcantara pulled one back in the 28th minute to give Bayern a glimmer of hope.

However, the result was put beyond any doubt on 65 minutes, when striker Jackson Martinez raced clear of the defence before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home.

The hosts came flying out of the traps as they went in search of an early goal and got the breakthrough they were looking for after just three minutes of play.

Jackson Martinez caught Xabi Alonso dallying on the ball on the edge of his box and dispossessed the Spaniard before bearing down on goal.

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The striker tried to round goalkeeper Manuel Neuer but was clipped by the Germany international, leaving the referee with other option but topoint to the spot.

Quaresma stepped up to take the spot-kick and rifled the ball into the bottom-left corner, after the ref had shown Neuer the yellow card.

Bayern had a glorious opportunity to draw level in the ninth minute, but striker Robert Lewandowski contrived to nod the ball over the bar from close range when it would have been easier to score.

The visitors were made to rue that missed opportunity just one minute later, as Quaresma pounced on an error by Dante, before breaking into the area and slotting the ball past the onrushing Neuer with the outside of his foot.

It was most certainly not the start Bayern had hoped for, but they were handed a way back into the contest on 28 minutes.

Jerome Boateng broke free on the right-hand flank and fired a curling effort into the danger area, where Thiago was waitingto fire the ball home at the back post.Porto renewed their efforts after conceding and very nearly restored their two-goal lead in the 34th minute.

Brazilian defender Alex Sandro fired a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal and Neuer got a touch to the ball, tipping onto the crossbar.

They again went close on the stroke of half-time, midfielder Casemiro heading just inches over from Quaresma’s inviting cross.

The Dragons picked up where they left off in the first half, as Casemiro tested Neuer with a shot from the halfway line, before Hector Herrera saw his side-footed effort deflected over the bar by the big German ‘keeper.

However, the pressure finally took its toll on the Bayern defence in the 65th minute. Sandro played a beautiful lofted pass over the top and into the path of Martinez, who rounded Neuer before slotting into an unguarded net.

Bayern hit back almost immediately with a chance of their own, but goalkeeper Fabiano was alert to the danger, getting down well to keep out Sebastian Rode’s strike towards the right-hand corner.

With the desired result already secured, Porto were quite happy to sit back and soak up the pressure from that point onwards and it worked to perfection, as Bayern were unable to break down an obstinate defence in the remaining minutes.

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