Another sunny Saturday mid day kick off saw Porto take on another TFC side and the first game in a run of four as Porto now set their sites on the championship.
With Porto having handsomely beaten Diplomats in the fall, it may have been forgiving to think this was just going to be a formality for the green army, but it would prove to be anything but.
As the game got underway, it was clear that this was a different Diplomats side than what Porto faced last season and they had more drive, especially in the attacking third. It was Diplomats that were quick on the attack in the opening few minutes trying to take it too the Porto side, who looked a little jagged round the ears from the early start, but then Porto started to impose their style of play and found themselves camped in the Diplomats third. With the Diplomats being reduced to punting the ball out of defence, this would pose the only threat to the Porto boys. It was Porto that took the lead 7 minutes in when a well-delivered corner from max found David’s head and he steered it into the top corner of the goal leaving the keeper helpless. The game then settled into a sparring match between Diplomats and Porto as both had their chances and both saw keepers more than ready. Dani the far quieter of the two was on hand however when the Diplomats broke through and when one on one, Dani made himself big and made another match defining block. With this, Porto managed to carve a second and fittingly it was with the assist from Dani that sent Kevin round the defence and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. HT 2-0
Coach was quick to praise, but point out the threat that the Diplomats had been poising during the first half and called on more focus and ultimately that killer goal to put the game to bed in the second half and not allow the Diplomats back into the game.
As the half got underway, Porto were being pressed hard and Diplomats were tackling and making themselves known trying to get that next goal. With again some excellent defending from Nick, Bennie, Andy and Kai, the back line was not going to be breached. Eventually, Porto managed to put that all important third on the board when a quick break and pass from Nick, sent David through one on one with the keeper and slotted the ball home. Diplomats were not done however and still they were pressing hard. It was from a Diplomats attack, that again Porto broke for their fourth and again in near mirror of the previous goal, David wrapped up his hat trick and capped off a near MVP performance. With the game ticking down, Diplomats id get a somewhat fortuitous penalty, when the ball looked to have hit the arm of Nick in the box. Despite protests that the ball had hit his chest, the referee gave the penalty and Diplomats managed to ruin the shut out when they striked straight down the middle. FT 4-1
MVP
It would be easy to look at the hat trick hero hear and immediately give the MVP to David and in normal circumstances, there would be little argument in doing this, except for the performance of another. Today, MVP goes to Kevin with what can only be described as a performance of fire and near perfection out on the right wing. Kevin's runs, strength, awareness and constant drive were pivotal in much of the Porto attacks and if not for the placing of the keeper, Kevin too could have notched a hat trick. This performance was as complete of a player as I have seen during my Porto reign and is testament to the work rate of Kevin and an example to all his team mates
