FC Porto 1 - 0 Club Brugge: Porto up to second after narrow win over Club Brugge

Posted Thursday, November 03, 2016 by PA

Porto moved up to second in Champions League Group G with a 1-0 home victory over Club Brugge.

The Portuguese side snatched a crucial late win in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago and they made it a double over Brugge thanks to Tomas Pina's 37th-minute own goal.

The goalless draw at FC Copenhagen in Wednesday's other group game allowed Porto to leapfrog the Danish outfit and move to within three points of leaders Leicester.

It was a must-win match for a Brugge side without a point in Group G and they were first to threaten after an uneventful opening 25 minutes.

Ricardo van Rhijn sent in a low cross from the right and Wesley got in front of Ivan Marcano at the near post to steer a shot towards the bottom corner that Iker Casillas pushed behind.

The visitors then had a strong penalty appeal waved away for handball before Porto took control of the half.

Felipe volleyed straight at Ludovic Butelle and Alex Telles' free-kick went all the way through and struck the bar on the bounce as Porto turned the screw.

Telles was causing problems with his delivery from set-pieces and it was his left-footed corner that forced Pina to deflect Andre Silva's near-post header over Butelle and into the bottom corner.

Telles went close with another free-kick just before the break and after the restart Diogo Jota had a fierce drive kept out by the left boot of Butelle.

Frustration began to build inside the Estadio do Dragao as the hosts continued to spurn chances, Telles shooting just wide after playing a one-two with Otavio before Jesus Corona produced a tame effort at the end of a good run.

Porto were forced onto the back foot as full-time approached and had Casillas to thank for keeping them ahead with an instinctive save from Pina's six-yard volley.

In the end Porto, dominant for much of the game, were relieved to hear the full-time whistle as they edged to a victory that left Brugge to fight for a place in the Europa League.