herrera pulls the strings as porto march on published: tuesday 25 november 2014, 19.54cet fc bate borisov 0-3 fc porto hector herrera scored one and made two as the visitors moved within a point of securing group h while the hosts equalled an unwanted record.
• hector herrera, jackson martínez and cristian tello end bate's hopes of advancing • unbeaten visitors need matchday six draw to definitely top group h • hosts now equal record for most goals conceded in group stage (22) • bate in battle with athletic club for section's uefa europa league spot • next games: athletic club v bate, porto v shakhtar donetsk (10 december)
fc porto ended fc bate borisov's prospects of progressing from uefa champions league group h as a second-half salvo advanced the portuguese club's aims of topping the section.
having conceded 12 goals across the last two matchdays – as well as six in portugal when these two met in the group's opening fixture – it would have been understandable to see the hosts suppress attacking instincts and focus on defensive solidity. however, they showed a surprising amount of confidence to open on the front foot and vitali rodionov tested fabiano with an awkward low shot before mikhail gordeychuk drove off target from long range.
yacine brahimi was the bate tormentor on matchday one with a brilliant hat-trick but he was kept on a short leash by the belarusian side on the left flank. ınstead the visiting threat rested on the shoulders of ricardo quaresma on the opposite wing though some wayward crossing spurned a number of promising positions. ın the end, porto's best chance of the first half came when brahimi whipped a free-kick just over moments before the game's midpoint.
the second period began with a noticeable drop off in quality as passes went astray and attacks floundered but after 11 minutes of underwhelming football hector herrera lit up the night. collecting the ball outside the bate area the mexico midfielder sent a whizzing, dipping effort across goal and over a helpless sergei chernik who was left clawing at air as the ball ripped into the net.
that immediately opened the contest up and after a rapid break porto right-back danilo saw an attempt well saved after swooping upfield, but it was two on 65 minutes as brahimi crossed for herrera and the scorer of the first laid off for jackson martínez to side-foot a lovely second into the corner.
bate's hopes were now over though they refused to fold completely, yet they were picked apart again with a minute remaining as herrera slipped through substitute cristian tello who rounded off the win. a final-day draw with fc shakhtar dontesk will secure top spot in the pool for porto, while bate face athletic club for the section's uefa europa league berth.
