FIFA Club World Cup: Porto boss Anselmi takes responsibility as Messi winner leaves Dragons on brink of exit | OneFootball

Inter Miami 2-1 FC Porto

FC Porto face an uphill task to progress from Group A of the Club World Cup in the United States, after they were beaten 2-1 by host outfit Inter Miami despite taking an early lead.

The Dragons must now beat Egyptians Al Ahly on the final day while hoping the match between Palmeiras and Inter Miami also goes their way, in order to have a chance of reaching the knockout phase of the tournament.

Things started well for Porto, who were awarded a penalty via VAR after just five minutes; the referee penalising Noah Allen for a trip on João Mário. Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa stepped up to take the spot-kick, beating Oscar Ustari to find the net, although the Argentine was aggrieved after getting a strong hand on the finish.

Porto threatened a second, particularly when Rodrigo Mora’s effort appeared goal bound, only to be cleared off the line by Maximiliano Falcón in the 39th minute. The miss proved crucial, as within two minutes of the re-start, Inter Miami drew level when Telasco Segovia connected to Marcelo Weigandt’s pull-back with a vicious shot which gave Cláudio Ramos no chance.

The equaliser set the stage for Lionel Messi, who was afforded the gift of a free-kick almost dead centre, 25 yards out. The veteran Argentine rose to the occasion, dispatching a pinpoint left-footed effort inside Ramos’ post on 54 minutes to put Inter Miami ahead – a lead they maintained for the rest of the match to massively boost their hopes of qualification.

Although the match was an even contest for the most part, the result is a damaging one for Porto, who become the first European team to lose to a non-European team at the tournament. On the final matchday, the Dragos must beat Al Ahly while hoping Inter Miami beat Palmeiras, which could see the Portuguese side advance on goal difference.

Martín Anselmi (Porto manager):

"I think that in the first half, with Segovia's position and those four in midfield, it was difficult to match up. We tried to adjust, we managed a bit and we wanted to correct it at half-time, putting Mora with Busquets, making it four against four. But when we corrected it it was too late, because I wanted to try to keep the same players in the second half. We lacked the attitude to win the duels, in the tactical part I am responsible because we should have balanced the team earlier.

“Tactically we weren't what we should have been. We knew that if Segovia played, they would have four midfielders. We wanted to correct that, but they're good, they moved us and we couldn't get the ball back. When we matched up the positionings it was too late. We should have made those changes earlier.

“When we corrected it and brought in another midfielder, we were able to control the game and balance it. Tactically, I am responsible for the fact that I had the solution there and I should have analysed it before. You have to cause damage, if you don't score the second goal they can equalise at any moment. Once they took the lead, we matched up tactically and started playing in the opponent's half, but we were unable to equalise the game. I admit that I knew that we had to change, we did it, but when we found the key to the solution we were already at a disadvantage.

"We have to win the last game, do our job. Win by scoring enough goals and wait for the result of the other game."

Cláudio Ramos (Porto goalkeeper):

“Above all, today we weren’t FC Porto. We lacked mentality. It was a game we knew we had to win, that we had to go in strong and we couldn’t lose.

“In the second half we conceded that goal [from Segovia] and it destabilised us a bit. But the problem is that afterwards we couldn't go after the result and we should have been more like FC Porto. We should have got the win, despite the adversities.

“We know we have one more game and we have to win it. Nothing more. Work to win and hope the stars align and we can get through. I apologise to our fans for not being FC Porto. We will give a good response in the next game”

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami):

“The whole team made a great effort. Not only did we defend, we had good control of the ball before we made it 2-1. FC Porto had chances, we conceded a penalty, but we reacted and it was a very important victory. We played against a very good European team. It's a very special competition. We played well.”