What makes champions? Resolve, determination and the sheer stubbornness to not be beaten. That for the larger part of the game tonight was what comes to mind when watching the Porto boys out against TFC Fast Classic Chivas.
Porto are clearly the team to beat now after passing the halfway point of the season and TFC looked more than ready to be the first team to notch that fabled 1 in the Loss column. As the game started Porto did look the more alert and were pushing TFC deep into their own half and looked the most likely to get a quick opener, but TFC stood fast and then showed their threat on the attack, with their only player of note, Mr. 23. Porto struggled all night to contain this players and Mr. 23 was moving way to quickly for the back line. Porto really looked lacking of ideas and found momentum hard to come by, especially when looking to move the ball up to the strikers. Porto found themselves behind through Mr. 23 when a quick slick move from TFC sent Mr. 23 through on goal and coolly placed it round the helpless Dani. Porto were still finding it hard to get a foothold in the game and despite some hard work from Cole and David in midfield, the final ball was just not coming and Kevin and Max were just being kept isolated up top. It was with a bit of luck that Porto got back level and with Mr. 23 being in goal, the scuffed shot went through the legs of the keeper and Porto somehow found themselves on level terms at the half. HT 1-1
As Porto got the second half underway, again there was just no energy connecting the team together to test TFC. The second half was very much a case of keeping the TFC strikers at bay as each attack looked as dangerous as the last. Mr. 23 was still the man that was causing the most issues for Porto and his twist and turns and latching on to clever through balls was causing the back line most issues. The normally resolute back line was having a torrid night and with the strikers being unable to crack the TFC defence, more TFC pressure was on coming. The score line however was not shifting from 1-1 largely due to the heroic actions of Dani in goal, who was off his line in a flash to stop the attack and win the one on ones.
As the half ticked down, coach made several formation changes to try and curb the TFC attacks and to try and spark the Porto boys into life. It nearly worked as well, with the new formation springing Kai loose for a long effort, Max with a lunging back post chance and David with a more typical David effort, but the chances all went begging. FT 1-1
Coaches Corner
Whether it be Tiredness, nerves or Just not our night, Coach all week had tried to make the boys aware of the threat that every team coming their way would pose as Porto become the team to beat in the division as they look to take the top spot of the league and tonight was a lesson and example of that very fact. Champions will never be given titles, they must be earned, battled and taken and this is a message coach left the boys with.. It's there's for the taking and in their grasp, but the final ingredient to grasp that is the ability to be self motivated, self driven and to put all their years learning’s into the cooking pot to create a 13 man army singing on the same hymn sheet and reading from the same page. We now have four games to go.. Four championship games, Four cup finals and the math’s is simple.. Four wins and Porto are champions!!
All that said, champions grind out results when they are not firing on all cylinders and today that box was firmly ticked!!
Well-done Porto! Be proud of the result and let's learn and put this game into our thoughts when we face Benfica on Saturday
MVP
This truly can only go to one boy who truly was the only reason that Porto got a point today and that was Dani. Dani put every learning he had into play today and was quick to react and be on hand to help his back line out when they needed him the most. A true team player and probably the most worthy of MVP's I have ever had the pleasure of awarding. Well Done Dani! Let this performance be what inspires your teammates in this run in!!!
