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Jackson: Porto should have killed off Eintracht

Jackson Martínez rued FC Porto easing up their intensity to allow Eintracht Frankfurt to recover for a 2-2 first-leg draw that Joselu told UEFA.com was down to their "great support".

Jackson: Porto should have killed off Eintracht
Jackson: Porto should have killed off Eintracht ©UEFA.com

The heavy rain over the Estádio do Dragão could not dampen a simmering UEFA Europa League encounter between FC Porto and Eintracht Frankfurt, which thoroughly befitted a meeting of two former winners of the trophy. The 2003 and 2011 champions started strongly and Porto had "big chances" to add to their two-goal lead, their forward Jackson Martínez told UEFA.com, Ricardo Quaresma having struck a stunning, curling opener before the 1980 victors came back to draw 2-2, prompting Joselu to praise the visiting Frankfurt fans.

Jackson Martínez, Porto forward
We had the game in our favour. We started well and, as well as the 2-0 lead, we had other big chances. The first goal gave them a bit of oxygen and encouraged them, and they ended up getting the draw. After the first goal we didn't carry on with the same intensity.

Can we come back in the second game? I think so, yes. We had a good opportunity here to be more relaxed out there in Germany, but now we have to focus on this game and the chance to go through to the next stage.

Ricardo Quaresma, Porto midfielder
The goal? That'll go on the DVD of my career. It's the fruit of hard work and confidence. I always try to do my best on the pitch. I don't score many, but the ones I do score are nice ones. The most important thing is to win, though. The result isn't good for us. This team has to show personality and go and win in Germany. We have to show what we have on the pitch.

Joselu, Eintracht forward
We always knew this would be a difficult match on paper. Porto are an enormous club and a really great team, but we stood up to them and never let our heads drop, and we finished with a result that will do us good for the return leg.

My goal? We had chances and we needed something like that to push us forward, and we managed to get the second, which counts for a lot.

We have great support and everyone thinks the match we played was thanks to them. They're always behind us wherever we go to and they really deserve this as well.

Porto? They're a team that's in the Champions League every year and have lots of experience, but there won't be a lot in the game in Frankfurt. We'll try to play another good game, like we did today, and to go through to the next round.

Carlos Zambrano, Eintracht defender
We knew that Porto are big opponents. It was difficult [last week] playing Dortmund twice. They're a great team, strong in the league and in Europe, and we were a bit unlucky in the home match in the cup, but that's in the past now.

Not having much experience in Europe? Thankfully it's gone well; we finished first in the group and got a good points total, which showed we were doing things right and working well. We'll work again for the return because it will be difficult. A 0-0 draw would work for us, but a win would be better for our nerves.

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