Porto remain without a point in the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat against Real Betis at Estadio La Cartuja.
The hosts were the superior side in the first half but Porto were denied twice, André Silva hitting the bar and Martim Fernandes' goal ruled out due to a handball by Borja Sainz.
Abde Ezzalzouli gave Betis the lead early in the second half but the Dragons hit back, Gabri Veiga equalising from a free kick and Samu Aghehowa scoring within two minutes of being introduced.
Francesco Farioli's side couldn't hold on following two errors from Francisco Moura, the left-back allowing Antony to assist Cucho Hernández and conceding a penalty that was converted by Isco.
Betis boss it but Porto go close
The hosts got off to a fast start in Sevilla, Abde Ezzalzouli’s shot tipped wide by Diogo Costa and Marc Roca firing wide from close range.
Porto withstood the onslaught and should have taken the lead when Álvaro Valles kicked the ball straight to André Silva. The striker failed with a lob but got another chance after Natan’ failed clearance, Silva seeing his header bounce back off the bar.
Betis got back on top, Ángel Ortiz forcing a sharp save from Costa before Nelson Deossa went close.
The Dragons thought they had scored after Francisco Moura’s cross wasn’t dealt with, Martim Fernandes heading the ball back into the danger area where he got another chance. He slammed a left footed volley off the underside of the bar and millimetres over the line, but VAR got involved and referee Clément Turpin ruled that Borja Sainz had handled the ball.
Textbook finish from Ezzalzouli
The second had had barely begun when Betis took the lead. Fran García went a long run and laid the ball to Ezzalzouli, the winger curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Antony should have doubled the advantage almost immediately when he pounced on a shocking pass from Alan Varela and hit the post. The statistics showed that Manuel Pellegrini’s side had taken 15-2 shots but Porto equalised in the 54th minute.
Porto fight back
Gabri Veiga won a free kick just outside the box and made it count, stepping up and finding the net with goalkeeper Álvaro Valles too slow to react. The equaliser sparked a minor fracas which saw Turpin show a yellow card to three players.
Francesco Farioli brought on Oskar Pietuszewski and Samu Aghehowa in the 59th minute and two minutes later Porto took the lead. Samu played a perfect 1-2 with Pepê and fired a rocket past Valles.
Betis punish mistakes
It seemed certain that there would be more goals and was the hosts who scored it in the 74th minute. Antony got past Francisco Moura, cut inside and picked put Cucho Hernández who swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Moura was caught out again when his late challenge on Ortiz was initially unpunished, Turpin eventually pointing to the spot where Isco took responsibility and sent Costa the wrong way.
Porto went desperately close to equalising in added time when Santiago Giménez got behind Betis’ defence and latched onto Pietuszewski’s cross, his header tipped wide by Valles who redeemed himself with a fantastic save.
Uphill battle
Farioli's side did well to take the lead after being outplayed and falling behind. Antony's battle with Francisco Moura was always going to be key and it was the Brazilian who made the defender pay when he instigated the equaliser.
There is a reason why Farioli has been hesitant to start Moura for the better part of a year. With Jan Bednarek suspended, Zaidu Sanusi unfit and João Souza still finding his feet, the manager turned to Moura who was unfortunate to be involved in Betis' final two goals.
The manager was asked about Moura after the match: "Francisco is coming back from a difficult season, a difficult second half of the season. He played well in recent situations, I need time to review, but I've never been a coach to put the responsibility on a player's shoulders and that won't be the case in this game."
Farioli admitted that the step up in class is significant: "It was a match where they could have scored more goals, and we could have scored more as well. The result could have been different. Naturally, there's a feeling that we deserved more. However, at the Champions League level, conceding even the slightest space comes at a price, because there are players capable of maximising any opportunity. These are the lessons we have to learn."
Porto are used to dominating teams on a regular basis, but the Champions League s clearly a big step up in class and it will not get easier. The Dragons now host PSV Eindhoven and Napoli before trips to Feyenoord and Liverpool.
