Champions League Group G wrap: APOEL hold Porto, stay top

Porto continue to struggle in the Champions League after a disappointing 1-1 draw to Group G rivals APOEL on Wednesday.

The Portuguese champions took the lead through the set-piece exploits of Brazilian striker Hulk early in the first half, but Ailton’s vicious strike from distance ensured the Cypriot high-flyers returned to their native shores with a valuable point for their European campaign.

It was a cagey start to proceedings in Oporto, but the hosts retained much of the ball in the early stages as the best of the early opportunities fell to young forward Kleber, whose efforts from close range were impressively stopped by Dionisis Chiotis in the APOEL goal.

Soon enough, the overriding dominance of Porto was finally rewarded on 13 minutes, after Hulk curled in a direct free-kick from 25 yards, beating Chiotis at his near post.

However, the visiting team soon created their first worthwhile chance of the encounter, and it proved to be fruitful as Ailton smashed a rocket from range after shifting the ball onto his right foot and leaving Fernando for dead just 12 minutes later.

Porto remained in the hunt for the winning goal through Kleber, but APOEL did not budge in their attempts to resist Portuguese pressure.

The second half was more of the same in terms of intensity, with the yellow card tally beginning to pile up as both teams showcased their intent on gaining all three points in a heated manner.

Despite Porto possessing the upper hand on goal-bound attempts, it was the Cypriots who had the best chances to come out victorious, as late strikes from Constantinos Charalambides and substitute Aldo Adorno were whiskers away from proving to be the winners, but captain Helton continued to stand tall as both teams settle for a share of the spoils in Group G.

Meanwhile, Zenit St Petersburg twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Donbass Arena.

The Russian champions could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Viktor Fayzulin was fouled by Dmytro Chygrynskiy inside the area. But Roman Shirokov could not beat Oleksandr Rybka from the spot, the keeper diving low to his left to push the ball away.

They were punished five minutes later, when Willian gave Shakhtar the lead with a sublime curling shot into the right-hand corner of the goal.

The Ukrainians were pegged back just after the half-hour mark, however. Roman Shirokov controlled a neat pass with his chest and knocked it past an oncoming Rykba from a tight angle.

Shakhtar then went in front again on the stroke of half-time. Ravzan Rat sent a low ball into the area and found Luiz Adriano, who, with his back to goal, turned and slotted the ball past Malafeev.

The home side came close to adding a third inside the first minute of the second half when Adriano almost got on the end of a Willian cross, but was denied by the Zenit defence. Three minutes later, captain Darijo Srna played a low ball to Jadson inside the area who blasted the ball high over the bar.

At the other end, Bukharov and Danny came close with attempts inside the opening 10 minutes after the break, but it was Fayzulin who drew the game level for the Russians on the hour mark with a well-taken lob over the helpless Rykba after Oleksandr Chyzhov lost the ball inside his own half.

The Russians almost won the game with five minutes to go, when first-half goalscorer Shirokov had a close-range shot blocked by some last-ditch defending from Oleksandr Kucher.