Arouca’s Spanish armada destroys Porto for historic 3-2 victory | OneFootball

An excellent all-round performance saw the ever-improving Arouca make history on two fronts tonight, as Daniel Sousa’s team deservedly beat FC Porto 3-2.

It was the first time Arouca had beaten Porto in their own stadium and made it four successive victories. Never before had Arouca won four games in the row in the top flight.

Perhaps the home fans could have guessed they were in for a special night in the very first minute of the match as the hosts took the lead with a sensational goal with just 36 seconds on the clock.

Lightning start

The ball was transported from deep inside Arouca’s half to the edge of the Porto box through a series of swift first-time passes. Spanish forward Cristo González swung over an inviting cross where his compatriot Rafa Mújica sent a diving header into the corner of the net.

Porto did not take long to hit back, Evanilson winning and converting a penalty in the 9th minute after being fouled by Robson Bambu.

The Dragons then took control of proceedings, pinning Arouca back in their own half and creating opportunities. A Galeno shot from distance had to be tipped over the bar by Arruabarrena and João Mário and Nico González went close as a Porto goal seemed just a matter of time away.

But on a counter-attack Pedro Santos’ cross was handled by Pepe and the referee pointed to the spot despite the Porto captain’s protestations. González stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty into the roof of the net.

Porto thought they had found another equaliser soon afterwards, but Evanilson’s tidy finish was ruled out as the Brazilian had received the ball in a narrowly offside position.

Spanish trio causes panic in Porto defence

But Arouca were now playing with confidence, the Spanish front three of Rafa Mújica, Cristo González and Jason Remeseiro combining well and always a threat, well served by the midfield trio of David Simão, Pedro Santos and Morlaye Sylla.

A deflected Jason shot and another close call when the same player combined with Cristo just before half time had the Porto supporters worried. The Blue and Whites were dealt another blow before the break as the limping Alan Varela had to be substituted.

As the half-time whistle went Sérgio Conceição marched down the tunnel with a face like thunder and when Porto delayed their reappearance for an eternity – Arouca were out ready and waiting on the pitch a full four minutes before their opponents – one imagined the coach had read the riot act to his players.

Whether or not that happened, it had little effect, as Porto singularly failed to recapture their earlier ascendance in the game. It was Arouca who played the better football, looking secure at the back and breaking frequently with speed and intelligence to put Diogo Costa’s goal under constant threat.

Key Porto chances go begging

That said, things could have been different if two chances for Porto had gone into the net five minutes after the restart, but Arruabarrena denied Francisco Conceição and Nico González with two excellent saves.

Arouca were rewarded for refusing to “park the bus”. In the 56th minute González was almost through on goal, his sliding effort saved by Costa, and the Portugal goalkeeper then had to make a far tougher save as he beat away Mújica’s powerful shot from an angle.

It was little surprise therefore when Arouca increased their lead on the hour mark with another fine goal. Captain David Simão showed fantastic awareness to take a free kick won near his own box quickly, launching the ball long to Jason. The Spaniard drove towards goal, jinked his way past Fábio Cardoso with ease and sent a terrific left-footed curler beyond Costa’s despairing dive and into the net.

When the expectation was for Porto to throw everything at Arouca, the home side were surprisingly comfortable defending their lead, aided by a stream of stoppages for substitutions and injury interruptions as the final minutes turned into a feisty affair.

The visitors gave themselves a chance of a dramatic comeback when Francisco Conceição latched onto a Cardoso flick-on to score for close range in the 87th minute, but it proved too little too late.

Despite the eight minutes of stoppage time attributed by the referee, the home team held on without alarm - even more so after Fábio Cardoso’s late red card - for a result that will be long talked about among the Arouca faithful.

Porto’s title hopes shattered

The result all but ends Porto’s title hopes given the seven-point deficit to leading duo Benfica and Sporting, with the Lions also having a game in hand.

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