The match started off even with Craig unlucky not to add to his growing talley with a customerary long range shot and the subsequent rebound seeing Chris pounce but straight to keeper. Shambles were holding their own but a crunching tackle on Chris was a taste of things to come and soon found themselves 1 - 0 down after a cross field run and shot by a Porto striker. Some fine passing almost resulted in an equaliser with goal hungry Chris close to scoring again. However it was soon 2 - 0 as Porto found themselves in space down the left and squeezed the ball between keeper and post.The kick off commenced with again some fine passing and Dave trying to take a leaf out of Craigs book with a long range shot that the Porto keeper somehow dropped down to and block. An unmarked Porto striker attempted a back heel on the edge of the Shambles box , not only sent Shambles keeper Darren the wrong way but the resulting back pass by Graham hit the back of the net, 3 - 0 Porto!
Although Porto it has to said are a very good side, their unsporting behaviour at times left a lot to be desired, taking a free quick quickly which wasn't theirs and kicking the ball away after wasn't the fairest thing in the world.When it was taken , Keith was unlucky not to pull one back with only Porto's keeper pulling off another great save .Shambles rallied with first Craig coming close and then Keith being denied again by the Porto keeper.Chris again came close but to no avail. Yet another crunching high!tackle gave Shambles another free kick but could not find that elusive goal.
Half time 3 - 0 but Shambles now realise what to expect - plenty of free kicks!!
Dave was unlucky not to poach an early goal but soon tempers started to flare as yet another incident led to an exchange of words between opposing players.
As things settled down both teams tried to find an opening , a great save from Shambles keeper Darren denying Porto. Yet another free kick in Shambles favour unfortunatly lead to nothing but was followed shortly after by another crunching challenge this time on Keith who hobbled away worse for wear. An attempt to take the free kick quickly was stopped by the ref who stopped the game to give a well deserved dressing down to an encroaching Porto player.
A further class save from Darren denied a Porto counter attack but could do nothing with the next as , after a blinding run by Chris , Porto's slick counter attack lead to their 4th!.
No matter how hard Shambles tried they could not find an opening and even after another freekick on the edge of the Porto box Keith could only shoot it wide.
Full time 4 -0 with only a few handshakes after the game. Porto can obviously play good football but why the need for all the unsporting antics??Shambles were beaten by the better side on the night but now know what to expect in the return leg!