Porto remain without a point in the UEFA Champions League after losing 1-0 at home to PSV Eindhoven.
The visitors hit the woodwork twice at Estádio do Dragão before breaking through in the 57th minute when Guus Til scored from close range.
André Silva and Victor Froholdt went close to equalising but Francesco Farioli had no excuses after the contest.
The Dragons will continue to play catch up but the fixtures get no easier with Napoli, Feyenoord and Liverpool up next.
Dutch champions show no fear
PSV showed their intent early when Ivan Perisic headed Lutsharel Geertruida’s cross narrowly wide.
Oskar Pietuszewski looked lively in his first start of the season but the visitors continued to threaten, Guus Til firing wide and Mauro Júnior missing the target on two occasions.
Filip Kostic then pounced on an error from Alberto Costa, raced into the box and hit the post. The first half ended with Sergiño Dest shooting straight at Diogo Costa.
Porto started the second half well with Pablo Rosario and Samu Aghehowa going close. It didn’t last long with PSV going close to finding the net, Perisic’s cross picking out Esmir Bajraktarević who hit the post.
Deadlock broken
The winger would soon get another chance to make an impact and did just that in the 57th minute. Zaidu Sanusi made two errors which allowed Bajraktarević to drive to the byline and pick out Sven Mijnans, the playmaker steering the ball to Til who converted from a yard out.
Francesco Farioli immediately made three substitutions, introducing Hwang In-Beom, Borja Sainz and André Silva for Gabri Veiga, Pietuszewski and Samu.
Bajraktarević forced a sharp save from Costa as the contest threatened to get out of hand. Sanusi made way for João Souza who made his first appearance for the Dragons.
Silva and Froholdt denied
Porto went desperately close to equalising in the 72nd minute when Jan Bednarek came off his line and made a great interception that sent In-Beom clear. The South Korean crossed to André Silva who saw his shot saved by Matej Kovár, Silva getting the ball back and teeing up Victor Froholdt whose effort was blocked on the line by Geertruida.
Francesco Farioli’s side had another fantastic opportunity less than 60 seconds later. Diogo Costa’s long pass picked out Alberto Costa who lifted the ball over Kovár, Dest getting back to prevent the defender firing into an empty net.
Pepê and Sainz went close in added time but PSV hung on to take three points back to Eindhoven.
Disappointing defeat
Porto are not used to being bossed around and despite missing some presentable opportunities, PSV hit the woodwork twice and were deserved winners. It might have been a different story if Oskar Pietuszewski and Samu Aghehowa were fit enough to play 90 minutes.
The Dragons haven’t begun a Champions League campaign with three consecutive defeats since 1997/98 and it get’s no easier, Farioli’s side hosting Napoli before trips to Feyenoord and Liverpool.
Porto’s rock solid defence has not only looked shaky in the Champions League. They have conceded in their previous four appearances in Liga Portugal to make it seven matches without a clean sheet.
Diogo Costa was asked about the defensive frailties: "I think that, in a way, teams are starting to understand how we play. We need to continue to be stronger and perhaps more aggressive. We also need to take a few more risks."
Francesco Farioli knows improvement is needed in the competition, saying: "This is the third time I've come here after a Champions League game to say that we did enough to get a different result and we didn't, so there's definitely something we have to do better."
"We changed a few things at halftime. PSV, as I said yesterday in the press conference, is one of the teams in Europe that runs the most, with intensity, it's a very physical team and today we knew it was going to be a very demanding game.
"It was very important to win duels, because it was all man-to-man and they have players who are very strong and very physical in this aspect. We had our moments, we didn't take advantage of them and, in the few situations they had, they scored and that made the difference."
Full-back issues
Alberto Costa is a danger going forward, but he is looking increasingly suspect at the back. In addition to his defensive issues, he has been spending way too much time on the ground crying about non-existent fouls and referees are onto his act.
Francisco Moura was exposed in the 3-2 defeat at Real Betis and Zaidu Sanusi’s role in PSV’s winning goal was comical at best. We finally saw João Souza in action and the young Brazilian should continue to get opportunities so we can see what he can do.
Martim Fernandes is only 20-years-old but seems to be continually injured, hindering his growth and development which is saddening to see.
The Dragons have to find some consistency in the full-back positions.
