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Sérgio Conceição repeated the same Manchester design in a different context and with different players, and the initial result was not famous: FC Porto fell badly, the passes went to nobody’s areas and the usual electricity was not felt; just short circuits.
Detailing that the eleven was unexpected, FC Porto entered with three centrals and wings up, but with Zaidu as defense on the left and Manafá in the same hall, and on the other side Mbemba and Corona; Pepe was the center, come on, the center. The former outcast Nakajima entered the center of the field, and in front of him Evanilson and Toní Martínez reinforcements, thus completing an unusual line in the era of Sérgio Conceição, who likes little radical change.
Obviously, the injuries of Luis Díaz and Otávio explain part of this alignment, and it is also plausible that the undisputed Marega and Sérgio Oliveira, on the bench, are showing some fatigue.
From the paper to the field, the plan went wrong due to the demerit of the athletes, but also because Gil Vicente was closed and compact, yes, although he rejected the trick of ultra-defensive teams: kicking forward. Gil was consistent and confident and neither was FC Porto, accumulating several misperceptions.
For only about half an hour it seemed that Conceição’s team was meeting again, when Corona switched sides with Manafá and joined Nakajima and Zaidu. In an individual bid, the Mexican went through four and a center for a header from Toni Martínez; in a pass to overlap Zaidu, Evanilson’s goal was born behind a Nigerian center.
Shortly after, rest came and FC Porto would be satisfied with that, because behind it was a dull and gray display, and two missed opportunities by Gil.
Then, in the second half, Sérgio Conceição put Romário Baró for Martínez and FC Porto began to play in a model much closer to theirs: in 4x3x3. And, at a glance, the match became easier to control and even dominate, as if the team had found the invisible threads that bind footballers used to playing with each other, in the way they understand best.
Then things flowed, Porto’s chances appeared, there was a penalty from Uribe saved by Denis, a shot from Fábio Vieira that came out a bit to the side and another that hit a rival; and an ever-growing display of the talented Nakajima, arguably FC Porto’s most talented player to play between the lines, calling for the ball in space to create solutions.
Everything was going well for Conceição and his boys, until Karma intervened in an intrinsically Portuguese moment: Zaidu saw the second yellow card, he was stripped of the four lines, Pepe approached him, the Nigerian clumsily passed him over the field, to stop time and have someone warm up on the bench.
Do you remember the anti-game? Why.
Seconds later Sarr entered, Nakajima left and FC Porto withdrew in their intentions. From then on, it was more important to manage the minimum advantage, that the team came from a defeat (Marítimo) and a draw (Sporting), than to attack a second goal.
The classification was not for unnecessary risks; the most prudent thing was to close the door and Sérgio Oliveira entered to give muscle in the final minutes that were extended with another seven discounts.
