Champions League Group G wrap: Porto out after scoreless draw

Portuguese champions Porto were eliminated from the Champions League after they could only muster a 0-0 draw against Zenit St Petersburg.

Needing a victory to secure a spot in the next round from Group G, Porto applied pressure in the Russian midfield at the beginning of the match, barely allowing their visitors to breathe.

Two goalmouth opportunities, a strike from Djalma and a header from Hulk, showed the Porto’s intent early on.

Porto continued to tear through their competition, with their front three causing havoc, especially through the wing play of Djalma. Their midfield continued to hold 60 per cent of the total possession.

Playing without top striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov who was ruled out with a nagging ankle injury, Luciano Spalletti’s visitors had trouble holding the ball up in Porto’s midfield.

Relying on quick counterattacks with the intent of releasing Danny with a killer pass, the Russians could not unlock Porto’s effective offside trap.

The second half seemed to begin differently as Zenit held a lot more possession than in the first period.

However, a Porto counterattack brought dominance back to the Portuguese side; a pacy run from James ended with the prodigy finding Hulk in the box.

The Brazil international crossed the ball dangerously across Malafeev’s goal and narrowly missed a sliding Djalma.

Malafeev continued to keep his team in the competition after the experienced keeper made a brilliant save from a 25-yard strike from Joao Moutinho.

A scrambling Porto attempted all they could to best their Russian opposition, but fell apart near the end of the match as their Champions League hopes went up in smoke.

Zenit celebrated their progression alongside Cypriot outfit APOEL, who became just the third team to win a group with less than 10 points after they lost their final match 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

After having the better of the chances in the first half, Shakhtar finally broke the deadlock on 62 minutes through Luiz Adriano, who finished off from close range after Vyacheslav Shevchuk’s cross.

They put the game out of APOEL’s reach in the 79th minute when Fernandinho unleashed a rocket that could only be fumbled by goalkeeper Pardo into the path of Yevhen Seleznyov, who coolly slotted the ball round the helpless keeper and into the net.