Betis beat Porto 3-2 in the Champions League as Isco's penalty completes the comeback in Seville

Betis come from behind

Real Betis beat FC Porto 3-2 at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville on Wednesday, 14 October, in the second matchday of the Champions League league phase. Porto had already lost at home to Manchester City in the first matchday, so this defeat leaves the Portuguese side with no points after two games. Isco scored the winning goal in the 84th minute from a penalty, awarded after Francisco Moura was booked for a foul on Ángel Ortiz. Notícias ao Minuto described the spot kick as controversial. About 3,500 Porto supporters travelled to Spain, and the match was the second straight Champions League defeat for the club.

A goalless first half

Betis started with the stronger pressure, using wide play from Abde on the left and Antony on the right, with full-backs Ortiz and Fran García pushing forward. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was called on repeatedly as the Spanish side probed. Porto gained confidence as the half went on and went in at the break still level at 0-0. Porto also had a goal disallowed for handball, with Martim Fernandes' effort ruled out before the interval.

Samu's goal and Farioli's assessment

Samu came on about half an hour from time and scored, becoming the second-fastest goal scorer for Porto in the Champions League, behind Lino, who scored in a 2008 match against Fenerbahce, according to Observador. Porto coach Francesco Farioli was booked for protesting the disallowed goal, and his protests about the position of Cucho Hernández at the start of the move that led to the penalty drew attention. Afterwards Farioli said his side had been good with the ball for the first 60 to 70 metres but lacked quality in the final third. He said Porto could have scored two or three more goals up to the final minute, and that Alberto Costa had two or three chances after the 1-2 where the game could have been closed. Farioli added that his team had deserved more than zero points.

Betis reaction

Manuel Pellegrini described the match as very intense against a strong opponent, and said Betis had played a very complete first half in which they perhaps deserved a goal. He pointed to an Antony shot against the post in the second half that could have put Betis 2-0 ahead. Pellegrini said the team did not panic after Porto's second goal and relied on its model of play to turn the game around. Betis now have six points after two matchdays, and Pellegrini said they must return home next Wednesday to face Feyenoord.

Porto's next steps

Victor Froholdt told Sport TV that Porto had suffered from Betis's transitions and that the team had come to Seville to win three points. He said Porto had six league-phase matches left to play. Farioli said the next fixture is at home against PSV at the Estádio do Dragão, and that the team has one week to prepare. He added that the Champions League format makes every point important, so the PSV game has to be one where Porto collects points.