FC Porto edges Vitória SC 2-1 in Guimarães with late Martim Fernandes goal

A late winner in Guimarães

FC Porto beat Vitória SC 2-1 at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques on Sunday, 8 November, in the 11th round of the Primeira Liga. Borja Sainz put the visitors ahead in the 38th minute, Alanzinho equalised for the hosts in the 77th, and Martim Fernandes restored the lead in the 86th. The full-back finished a fast counterattack led by Giménez, after Pepê carried the ball forward, waited for the overlap and laid it off for a cross-shot into the net. The winner came in a match where the hosts had spent much of the second half pressing toward Diogo Costa's goal.

First half on the front foot

Porto dominated the opening period, with chances at both ends and a fast tempo throughout. Pepê forced the first save of the game from Lucas Furtado in the 16th minute, and Gabri Veiga's shot followed over the bar. A goal by Porto's Samu was ruled out for offside against Alberto Costa, and Borja Sainz was also in an offside position in the same move, according to match reports. Vitória SC replied through Samu Silva, whose first-time shot from a cross was held by Diogo Costa, and Gustavo Silva drove a shot inches past the post. The opener came in the 38th minute: after a long ball from Jan Bednarek, Alberto Costa crossed from the right and Borja Sainz redirected it at the second post. Borja Sainz scored in his third consecutive Primeira Liga match, and FC Porto went into the interval 1-0 up.

Vitória push and Alanzinho's equaliser

Vitória SC's pressure grew after the break, with the hosts pushing their lines up and getting closer to the Porto goal. Alanzinho came on in the 64th minute for Samu, and he was credited with the equaliser in the 77th, a cross-shot after an assist from Gustavo Silva. Diogo Costa touched the ball but could not keep it out. Alanzinho, a summer signing, scored against FC Porto for the third season in a row, having also done so in each of the two previous seasons with Moreirense. Farioli's side had made two changes from the team that started against Napoli midweek, with Zaidu and Samu coming in for Martim Fernandes and André Silva. Martim Fernandes came on in the second half to play on the right to help Alberto Costa defensively, and it was his attacking play that decided the match.

Standings and what comes next

FC Porto moved to 33 points after 11 matches and remain unbeaten in the league this season, with an 11th straight league win according to match reports. They are eight points clear of Benfica in second, who still had to play Estrela da Amadora that Sunday. Vitória SC are 14th with nine points, returning to defeat after a draw with Gil Vicente. FC Porto are two wins short of matching the best opening run on record, 13 wins set in the 1939/40 season. The result followed FC Porto's first European win of the week, a home victory over Napoli in midweek. The club heads into the international break at the top of the table.

FC Porto33

Vitória SC9

FC Porto

33 points

Vitória SC

9 points

Data from the article text