Shakhtar 0-2 Porto

PanARMENIAN.Net - Porto managed to preserve their chances of progression to the round of 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Group G.

After an evenly-matched first half, Brazil international Hulk gave the visitors the lead, before Razvan Rat struck a late own goal to ensure the Portuguese still have hope of edging through going into the final round of fixtures.

Porto were the more vibrant team in the early minutes of the match, as they passed the ball around quickly and pressured the opposition high up the pitch.

Shakhtar soon shook off their early game lethargy, and started creating chances of their own. Willian was the first to have a pop at goal for the Ukrainians, but his weak shot was easily claimed by Helton.

Luiz Adriano then struck the post just before the 20-minute mark as Shakhtar were tightening the grip. Still, Porto had one good chance through Steven Defour on the counter, but the Belgium international could only shoot in the hands of Olexandr Rybka from inside the area.

Olexandr Kucher had the crowd on their feet with half an hour gone as he hit a sublime bicycle kick just wide of Helton's right post. This proved to be the last moment of interest for the first period as the teams had to withdraw at the break with the result locked at 0-0.

The freezing temperature took its toll in the second half as the tempo gradually began to drop. Chances were few and far between until after the hour mark, when Shakhtar started to pick up the pace.

Fernandinho hit the post, just as Luiz Adriano had earlier, with an elegant shot from inside the box as the hosts threw everything forward in the final quarter of the match. Their reckless attacking proved to be their undoing, however, as they fell victims to two late goals by Porto.

In the 79th minute a slick pass by Joao Moutinho found the unmarked Hulk inside the box; the Brazilian turned with the ball, freed up some space, and then powered a precise shot past Rybka.

In injury time, substitute Cristian Rodriguez forced an own goal from Rat as he powered a stinging effort which was deflected off the defender and into the net to put the game beyond Shakhtar's reach.

The scoreline means that Porto can clinch qualification into the last 16 if they are able to overcome Zenit in their final fixture of the group. Shakhtar, meanwhile, have suffered a campaign to forget, and their foray into Europe this season has come to an end, Goal.com reported.