Falcao produced a four goal wonder show to give FC Porto a 5-1 first leg win over Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Falcao cancelled out Cani’s opener before Fredy Guarin gave Porto a 2-1 lead. The Colombian striker then completed his four goal salvo in the second half gave Porto a convincing lead ahead of the second leg.
It was Villarreal who started on the front foot with Nilmar creating the first opening after seven minutes, the chance went astray when the Brazilian’s shot was saved comfortably by Helton. Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi then bore down on goal but was denied by a good Rolando tackle.
Villarreal took the lead on the stroke of half-tine when Nilmar’s teasing cross was finished by Cani to send the Spanish club into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Porto were awarded a penalty four minutes after the restart when Guarin released Falcao, and the tournament’s top scorer was hauled down by goalkeeper Diego Lopez. Falcao got up to level the scores from the penalty spot.
Guarin gave Porto a 61st minute lead when his shot was saved by Lopez and he was first to the rebound to finish well and make the score 2-1.
Falcao then put the game out of reach with two goals in eight minutes. First the Colombian turned home Hulk’s cross, and then beat Lopez with a fine header from Guarin’s free kick.
The emphatic 5-1 win was rounded off when Falcao got up well to head home a James Rodriguez corner. The result makes Porto huge favorites to advance to the Europa League Final in Dublin.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIL – Cani (Nilmar) 45’
POR – Falcao (Penalty kick) 49’
POR – Fredy Guarin (unassisted) 61’
POR – Falcao (Hulk) 67’
POR – Falcao (Fredy Guarin) 75’
POR – Falcao (James Rodriguez) 90’
LINEUPS
POR – Helton, Pereira, Guarin (Souza 79), Moutinho, Falcao, C Rodriguez (Varela), Hulk (J Rodriguez), Rolando, Sapunaru, Fernando, Otamendi.
VIL – Lopez, Musacchio, Marchena, Nilmar (Ruben 72), Cazorla, Cani (Matilla 71), Catala, Valero (Mubarak 67), Soriano, Rossi, Gaspar.
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Falcao (FC Porto).
It was Villarreal who started on the front foot with Nilmar creating the first opening after seven minutes, the chance went astray when the Brazilian’s shot was saved comfortably by Helton. Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi then bore down on goal but was denied by a good Rolando tackle.
Villarreal took the lead on the stroke of half-tine when Nilmar’s teasing cross was finished by Cani to send the Spanish club into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Porto were awarded a penalty four minutes after the restart when Guarin released Falcao, and the tournament’s top scorer was hauled down by goalkeeper Diego Lopez. Falcao got up to level the scores from the penalty spot.
Guarin gave Porto a 61st minute lead when his shot was saved by Lopez and he was first to the rebound to finish well and make the score 2-1.
Falcao then put the game out of reach with two goals in eight minutes. First the Colombian turned home Hulk’s cross, and then beat Lopez with a fine header from Guarin’s free kick.
The emphatic 5-1 win was rounded off when Falcao got up well to head home a James Rodriguez corner. The result makes Porto huge favorites to advance to the Europa League Final in Dublin.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIL – Cani (Nilmar) 45’
POR – Falcao (Penalty kick) 49’
POR – Fredy Guarin (unassisted) 61’
POR – Falcao (Hulk) 67’
POR – Falcao (Fredy Guarin) 75’
POR – Falcao (James Rodriguez) 90’
LINEUPS
POR – Helton, Pereira, Guarin (Souza 79), Moutinho, Falcao, C Rodriguez (Varela), Hulk (J Rodriguez), Rolando, Sapunaru, Fernando, Otamendi.
VIL – Lopez, Musacchio, Marchena, Nilmar (Ruben 72), Cazorla, Cani (Matilla 71), Catala, Valero (Mubarak 67), Soriano, Rossi, Gaspar.
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Falcao (FC Porto).
