lisandro keeps atlético in porto's sights published: wednesday 25 february 2009, 0.40cet
club atlético de madrid 2-2 fc porto
lisandro took his uefa champions league tally to six for the campaign as the visitors twice came from behind to earn a well-deserved draw in spain.
by paul bryan from vicente calderón
lisandro took his uefa champions league tally to six goals for the campaign as fc porto twice came from behind to earn a well-deserved draw against club atlético de madrid.
helton error maxi rodríguez got the hosts off to a perfect start in the spanish capital with a third-minute opener, but from then on the portuguese visitors held sway. having already had one effort chalked out, lisandro equalised midway through the first half and, though a helton error allowed diego forlán to restore atlético's lead just before the interval, the argentinian striker was not to be denied the limelight.
early blow the away goals could prove crucial in a fortnight, an invaluable return considering that, from when defender fucile picked up a knock in pre-match training, it never looked like being porto's night. cristian săpunaru came in at right-back, but it was on the opposite flank that the visitors initially struggled as competition debutant cissokho was made to pay for drifting inside on three minutes. the lapse allowed maxi rodríguez to latch on to a well-weighted ball from sergio agüero and fire in his third goal of the campaign.
porto fizz porto could have broken the deadlock themselves moments earlier when cristian rodríguez warmed the hands of leo franco, and hulk went close on ten minutes with an effort that fizzed just over the crossbar. the visitors were bristling with intent and, though there was further disappointment when lisandro had an 18th-minte header ruled out for offside, it was a fleeting disappointment. pablo ibánez misjudged an innocuous looking high ball and lisandro pounced, his shot doing enough to creep past franco and inside the upright.
hands aloft the atlético goalkeeper could perhaps have done better and soon set about making amends, denying hulk as porto poured forward. the hosts, struggling in the liga, seemed to be reverting to type, their back line looking increasingly brittle. yet just when they needed a helping hand they got it, as helton somehow contrived to let in a tame forlán effort deep into first-half added time. the porto no1 immediately held his hands up apologetically, and then appreciatively as the swathes of blue and white inside the stadium chanted his name.
cissokho redemption jesualdo ferreira's side displayed similar powers of resilience as the second period got under way and could have been level within two minutes but for a timely intervention from ibáñez, hooking lisandro's header off the goalline following a corner. the porto no9 was causing mayhem, effortlessly working space, and after blazing one excellent chance over he restored parity again with 18 minutes remaining, steering in cissokho's fine left-wing centre. atlético never looked like taking the lead for a third time, so porto take a narrow advantage in to the second leg on 11 march.
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