FC Porto thrashed 4-0 at home by Real Betis, qualification hopes fading | OneFootball

FC Porto’s under-19 team complicated their qualification for the UEFA Youth League round of 16 by losing 0-4 at home to Real Betis this Wednesday, in the first leg of the final round of the champions’ path.

When they seemed close to reaching the knockout stage, the team led by Sérgio Ferreira – who had previously eliminated NK Bravo with 4-0 and 4-1 wins in Slovenia and Vila Nova de Gaia – faced a tough challenge against the Spaniards.

Just three minutes in, after a cross from Iván Corralejo, Antonio Gonzalez’s header forced Gonçalo Ribeiro into a top-class save. Despite that stop, Real Betis took the lead in the 16th minute: following a corner, Gonçalo Marina headed in for 0-1.

Less than ten minutes had passed at Olival when Real Betis extended their lead to 0-2. In the 22nd minute, Antonio Gonzalez received the ball on the left, easily got past two Porto defenders, and finished low for the second goal.

Around the 27th minute, Guilherme Carvalho tried his luck from distance, forcing Manu González into a good save for a corner. Despite this reaction from FC Porto, it was once again Real Betis who scored in the 35th minute: after some confusion in Porto’s box, Rodrigo Marina set up Antonio Gonzalez, who scored his second of the match.

With a three-goal lead at halftime, Real Betis managed the game in the second half and sealed the result in the 87th minute. Gonçalo Ribeiro denied Rafa Oya’s first shot, but could not stop the rebound and the fourth goal.

FC Porto thus head into the second leg, which will be played in Seville on December 10th, Wednesday, at 3:00 pm (Portugal mainland time), at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol in Andalusia, with a significant deficit.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.