The game started with both teams eager to impose their style of play as both teams enjoyed some early chances. It was Porto that scored first after only 3 minutes from a free kick. As a few lads sized up the chance to be the clubs Cristiano Ronaldo, Coach sent match day captain Maxwell up to take it and he duly launched the ball into the back of the net. CSL were quick to respond with help by the slippery early morning, fresh cut, angry ant field that was the Chatham arena! A defensive punt evaded the porto back line as it skipped off the service and the quickness of the CSL forwards broke through to equaliser. It was again the field that came to the aid of CSL as they broke down the left and with a somewhat routine cross, the ground gave it that extra skip and the ball found it's way into the bottom corner. Porto were soon back on level terms with another free kick from Maxwell, this time putting it into the bottom corner. It was unfortunate though that the luck just seemed to be favouring the home team and they took the lead again from a free kick just outside the area that slipped just over Daniel's head. With this, coach sent on the tazmanian devil himself, Remi to make his debut and so nearly notched a goal picking up the ball in midfield, struck a shot from just outside the box, but found the keeper. Against the run of play came the 4th goal when the ball got 'hoofed' by their defence up front and with a somewhat 'hit and hope shot' unfortunately just creeping in at the near post. 4 quickly became 5 as the porto lads looked a little punch drunk from not getting the rub of the green in the 1st half. HT 2-5
With the boys looking a little disheartened, the half time talk was one of learning from the opposition, learning from ourselves and also one of putting little things right in the 2nd half. The overall message was clear. Go out and win the second half. Leave nothing to chance and play til the final goes with hustle and heart.
As the second half got underway, it was clear that the half time words were still ringing round the porto lads head as from back to front, they looked like a different animal. Whereas in the first half, the team weren't hunting in groups, they now were winning every 50/50 and regaining possession quickly. Plays were starting from Nick (the wall) Our full backs in the shape of Kai, Andy and Matt (who incidentally had the no.11 in his back pocket all game) started to support the attack and CSL didn't know what was happening as wave after wave of attack was coming at them. All this inside the first 5 minutes! With this effort came great reward as with so many plays before, Maxwell broke loose down the flank and notched his hat trick and the first for team porto. As far as this half went, it was all porto, rarely did the home team get out of their half to mount an attack as every porto team player was quick to the challenge and even quicker to pass and move the ball. It was however unfortunate that against all this play and good work came a somewhat freak wonder goal as with what seemed a well cleared ball from the keeper and the back line immediately got punted back over a despairing Remi from 25 yards out and found it's way into the goal. However, true character shined through from the porto boys and this did not phase in the slightest as they mounted attack after attack. The defensive confidence of Matt (who did i mention may still have their no.11 in his back pocket.. Matt please return the player to CSL at your early convenience) Nick, Kai, Danny and Andy, gave the midfield and attack the belief to keep going. Not to mention the quickness at which Kevin, Cole and David were winning the ball back from the CSL defence enables the wing threat of Max, Ryan and Owen to keep getting the crosses in. As much as we spent in the opponents penalty are, we just couldn't get that goal early enough to mount a comeback as with CSL on the ropes, they were just hanging in their. There was some reward however as finally porto got that goal they so rightly deserved and with again a well worked play, David calved his way through to put the ball in the net. With this goal going in and with time running out, Coach changed the side to an untested 2-3-2 formation to try and nick another. With Ryan and Kevin being the front pair and Cole and David backing them up all four were firing from all angles, but they just couldn't find their way through what had now turned into a 7 man wall (Well 6 as the no.11 was still in Matt's back pocket.. Remember to return him) and despite shot after shot, the game finally finished up. FT 4-6
