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Porto won the first leg of their much anticipated UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against the English proponents of the 'beautiful game' - Arsenal - by a margin of 2 goals to 1. Arsenal would count themselves unlucky as both of Porto's goals were down to goalkeeping errors (in fact howlers) from stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski. On the positive side, Sol Campbell, in his return to Champions League action after nearly 4 years got the vital away goal for the Gunners and led credence to their belief that they are still in with a chance of a quarter-final spot.

Porto welcomed the English Premier League giants Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao in a match that was being billed as a ‘test of character' of both sides. While Arsenal have often flattered to deceive on the big stage, Porto are slowly coming into their own and a match against Arsenal was going to be an eagerly anticipated barometer of the Portugese club's progress.

With Arsene Wenger's Gunners rocked by the recent additions to the dreaded injury list - Andrey Arshavin, William Gallas, Alex Song, Eduardo and Manuel Almunia - Porto sure had a chance to press home the advantage against a severely depleted Arsenal side. Wenger was forced to play Sol Campbell as the defensive partner to the reliable Belgian Thomas Vermaelen. Fabianski donned the goalkeeping gloves while Tomas Rosicky, Nicklas Bendtner and Samir Nasri started up front for the Gunners in their now standard 4-3-3. Porto on the other hand were glad to welcome back Hulk - who is serving a 6 month suspension imposed by the Portugese footballing federation for his alleged involvement in a tunnel bust-up with Benfica stewards last December.

The match was off to a frenetic start as Porto started the stronger of the two and immediately exerted pressure on the veteran Sol Campbell as Hulk and co. tried to rattle the big burly defender with their swift attacks. Campbell, to his credit held his own as his last ditch tackles were timed to perfection as the Porto forwards came agonizingly close to opening the scoring in the early exchanges. The goal came soon enough for the home side in the 12th minute as Lukasz Fabianski turned in a routine cross from Silvestre Varela into his own goal, much to the horror of his team mates and the visiting contingent from London just behind their goal.

Arsenal stung by the calamitous goalkeeping error tried to string together their own passage of ‘beautiful football' and Bendtner came close for the Gunners in the 17th minute when his shot was deflected behind for a corner. The rewards for Arsenal's attacking play came in the very next minute when Sol Campbell scored his first Champions League goal since the 2006 final against Barcelona, incidentally also in a 2-1 losing effort. Fabregas' corner was flicked on at the near post by Vermaelen, headed back across goal by Rosicky and Campbell was left with the easy task to head the ball in from close range to level the match.

With the vital away goal scored, Arsenal had inflicted major damage to Porto's hopes for progress into the Quarter finals. The home side therefore, went even more gung ho as they tried to find a way back into the match. The pace of the match was terrific and energy sapping for the players. Slick passing interspersed with some last ditch challenges were the order of the day as both sides tried to get the upper hand.

While Helton saved a Rosicky attempt at goal in the 20th minute in rather acrobatic fashion, Fabianski tried hard to atone for his own sins by beating away a Ruben Michael strike at goal in the 26th minute. Helton was again called for the rescue act when Bendtner's header was saved in some style by the Porto custodian in the 36th minute. Half time seemed to come at just about the right time for both teams as tempers were starting to fray in the wake of some rather crude challenges by both sets of players.

The second half saw Arsenal start on a brighter note but Fabianski was at it again as he gifted Porto another goal with his 'benevolent' ways at the back. A Sol Campbell back pass was ‘naively' gathered by Fabianski in the 50th minute. As the Arsenal players remonstrated with the referee, Porto just passed the ball into the net with Falcao netting the easiest goal he may probably score in the Champions League. While Arsenal were left fuming at the quick taking of the free-kick, they will do well to remember scoring such goals often enough in the Wenger era, with Thierry Henry always a good proponent of the quick free-kick. The only complaint that Arsene Wenger could really have is the role of the referee Martin Hansson, who took the ball from Fabianski (out of position) and handed it to the Porto player who set up the goal. To make matter worse for Arsenal, they had a great shout for a penalty turned down by the referee just seconds before the Porto goal.

Hulk then almost got a third goal for the home side at the hour mark as he wriggled free from Campbell and forced Fabianski into a good save. Raul Meireles tested Fabianski with another rasping shot in the 62nd minute but fortunately for Arsenal, Fabianski held firm. Arsenal on the other hand seemed to take a long time to come out of the 'second shock' and found it difficult force their way back into the game. Wenger realised the same and drafted in Theo Walcott for Rosicky in a bid to give Arsenal some more attacking impetus.

Fabregas was meted out for some special treatment as he was subjected to some clattering tackles and was closed down by a flock of Porto players whenever he seemed to have the ball. Both teams continued pouring forward in search of a crucial additional goal, but the speed of the game took its toll on the players with many of them lacking the energy to really produce a moment of class. Arsenal sorely missed the genius of Andrey Arshavin whose penchant of rising to the occasion was probably the need of the hour for the Gunners.

In the end though, both teams would be more or less satisfied with the match result. Arsenal have the vital away goal and Porto have a narrow lead to protect when they grace the Emirates in 3 weeks time. Arsenal however, wouldn't be too pleased with their goalkeeping calamities and one fears that this may truly be the last we see of Fabianski in an Arsenal shirt.

Teams:

Porto : Helton, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles (Costa), Silvestre Valera, Ruben Micael, Fucile, Rolando, Alvaro Pereira, Fernando, Falcao, Hulk (Gonzalez)
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Diaby, Nasri (Eboue), Rosicky (Walcott), Bendtner (Vela)

Match Result : Porto 2-1 Arsenal

File Photograph Copyright: Barry Zee