Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Arda winner hands Atletico win at Porto


Atletico Madrid came from behind to keep their stunning start to the season going with a 2-1 win away to Porto in Champions League Group G on Tuesday.
Colombian international Jackson Martinez had headed the hosts into a deserved 16th-minute lead, but Atletico improved mightily after the break and were level when Diego Godin nodded home Gabi's free-kick.
And Atletico made it seven consecutive wins in all competitions when another well-worked free-kick saw Gabi play in Arda Turan and the Turkish midfielder lashed the ball into the roof of the net five minutes from time.
With Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna drawing in the group's other game, the Spanish outfit are now thoroughly in control of the section.
"We managed the game very well and won in a place where very few teams do," Atletico boss Diego Simeone told Spanish television station TVE.
"In particular I want to congratulate the team for the way they reacted in the second-half after a difficult first-half."
Portuguese champions Porto had the best of the match early on and Atletico had a warning when Silvestre Varela headed meekly into the arms of Thibaut Courtois on 10 minutes.
However, Simeone's men were punished just six minutes later when Josue's free-kick from the left was bulleted into the net by the head of Martinez for his sixth goal in eight games this season.
Lucho Gonzalez then fired over and had a headed effort comfortably held by Courtois as the hosts continued to dominate.
Atletico were missing their suspended top scorer Diego Costa, but they did manage to come back into the game midway through the half.
Raul Garcia and Arda both saw efforts fly over before the former hit the bar with a flicked header after Helton had flapped at Gabi's corner.
Courtois was called into action again before halftime to keep Atletico in the game as he parried Varela's driven shot from the edge of the box with his foot.
Simeone reacted at the interval by introducing Cristian Rodriguez for the ineffective David Villa and saw an instant improvement in his side.
Filipe Luis fired an effort from 25 yards just wide before the equaliser arrived just prior to the hour mark.

Once again Helton was found wanting from a cross ball into the box and Godin rose highest to bundle the ball home from close range.
Both sides had chances to win it in the final quarter as Juan Quintero sent a free-kick from the edge of the area just wide before Garcia ought to have put Atletico in front when he fired into Helton's legs with just the goalkeeper to beat 13 minutes from time.
And the visitors did manage to nick the three points when Gabi played a clever reverse pass in behind the Porto wall from a free-kick and Arda remained composed in front of goal to drill the ball home from a narrow angle.

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