Despite good display Dinamo beaten at Dragao

Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal (21.11.2012.)

UEFA Champions league, Group A, 5. round

FC Porto - GNK Dinamo 3:0 (1:0)

Referees: Paolo Tagliavento, Mauro Tonolini, Lorenzo Manganelli, Luca Banti, Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni (all Italy)

Spectators: 27.603

Porto: Helton - Danilo, Ba (66. Sandro), Otamendi, Mangala - Lucho (75. Atsu), Defour (66. Fernando), Moutinho - Rodriguez, Jackson, Varela

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić, Pivarić - Ademi, Brozović, Kovačić - Beqiraj (86. Krstanović), Sammir (76. Puljić), Čop (84. Halilović)

Yellow cards: Jackson (24.), Ba (53.), Varela (83.) / Ademi (45.), Šimunić (66.)

Goals: 1:0 Lucho (20.), 2:0 Moutinho (67.), 3:0 Varela (85.)

Dinamo played a good game against Porto but suffered the fifth consecutive defeat in the group stage. Modri played an excellent first half, had several chances to score - even hit the post - but the home side converted their only chance to take the lead when Lucho Gonzalez got them in front. In the second half Moutinho scored a brilliant free kick while Varela made it 3:0 couple of minutes before time.

Dinamo coach Ante Čačić and the players said before the game that they are coming to Porto to play football and win - and they did that from the first minute of the game. Croatian champions played an excellent first half of the game, created numerous chances that should have give them the lead but instead it was Porto who got in front.

Modri started the game offensively with Beqiraj, Sammir and Čop in attack and Ademi, Brozović and Kovačić in the middle. Naturally, when Porto had possession most of the Dinamo players were behind the ball but Modri had an excellent chance in the 13th minute. Domagoj Vida won the ball and made a nice run before crossing the ball to Sammir who ran to the box and fired a shot to the far corner but - it ended in the post.

As it usual happens in the Champions league, Dinamo misses a great chance and the opponent scores from much less. After 21 minutes of play the ball deflected several times before coming to Lucho Gonzalez who placed a fierce left-footer close to the post; great shot for Porto's lead. Porto created couple of nice chances in the box but it was Dinamo who had another brilliant chance to score before half time.

In the 39th minute Sammir found Beqiraj who came in front of Helton but Otamendi made an fantastic tackle to block the shot. From the corner kick that followed Vida placed an excellent header, Helton made a save but only to deflect the ball to Beqiraj who striked from 2 metres but Varela managed to block the shot at the goal line; who excellent chances that ended with nothing good for Dinamo.

Porto started the second half of the game more carefully, with long distance shots and one of them got home side the second goal. Home team won a free kick 25 metres from Kelava, Moutinho placed a shot over the wall and into the upper corner of the net; brilliant goal for 2:0 and the end of the game. Of course, after conceiving the second goal it was obvious that Porto will win the game and Dinamo players mentally broke down.

Home team had several good chances to score but Kelava saved almost everything. Even our captain couldn't save when Varela was alone in the box few minutes before the end and made it final 3:0.

Dinamo is returning from Portugal with 3:0 defeat but Modri can held their heads up high because they've played a good game and deserved a lot more. Maybe some other time; there is still one more chance left in two weeks time when Dynamo Kyiv come to Zagreb.