Machado curses 'lucky' goal

FC Porto coach Octávio Machado admitted that poor finishing cost his side dear as AC Sparta Praha kept up their impressive away form at the Das Antas with a 1-0 win.

Costly mistake
The decisive goal was scored on 75 minutes when Porto goalkeeper Paulo Santos failed to hang on to Libor Sionko’s header as the ball escaped his clutches to trickle into the back of the net.

Converting chances
"I think we probably dominated the game. We took the initiative but weren't capable of turning that effort into goals and against a team with an appetite for counter-attacks and which defended well. A lucky goal won the game," said Machado.

Better chances
Porto dominated the first half and carved out a couple of good opportunities but Cech showed his agility to deny Deco. Sparta, however, defended well and were always dangerous on the break and never let the Portuguese side settle.

Brilliant goalkeeping
Sparta did ride their luck after the break when substitute Helder Postiga headed against the post. Cech again proved what a talented keeper he is deep in stoppage time to produce a fingertip stop from Deco’s curling free-kick, which had looked destined for the bottom corner.

Early present
This could not have been a better result for Jaroslav Hrébik’s side, who now go into their winter break having stolen a march on their Group C opponents, moving menacingly into second place behind Real Madrid CF. Machado was, if anything, realistic in his summing up: "Now we have to put the consequences behind us and think of the next game," concluded the Porto coach.