Drama Eight Goals, Porto Beat Shakhtar Donetsk And Qualify For The Last 16

Captain Porto Pepe celebrated the goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. (X/@ChampionLeague)

JAKARTA - Porto fought hard through an eight-goal drama when they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-3 in the last match of Group H of the Champions League at the Do Dragao Stadium, Thursday, December 14 in the morning WIB. Porto qualified for the last 16 and Shakhtar Donetsk competed in the Europa League.

Porto continued their work in the Champions League by advancing to the last 16 after winning the match against Shakhtar Donetsk.

This match is the determination of both teams. The winner of the match will accompany Barcelona to the next round.

Porto, who won the duel and got 12 points. Porto also equaled Barca's points. However, this elite Portuguese club lost the goal difference to rank two.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk remains competing in Europe. By ranking third, Shakhtar Donetsk, who has nine points in the Europa League. Porto coach Sergio Conceicao showed his satisfaction of qualifying for the last 16. Although he admitted that the team still needed improvements, especially in the team's game organization.

"In the end and most importantly I congratulate the players because we are in the position we really want, which is among the 16 best teams in Europe," Conceicao said.

"But we have to make improvements in the team's game organization. How can we suppress the opponent and create opportunities," he said.

Despite scoring up to five goals, Porto faced an opponent who was not easy. Conceicao said his team could win because they played better so they could overcome the Ukrainian club's resistance.

"We faced a difficult team and they appeared confident. The team also has many talented players who have good game organizations," he said.

"Just because Porto played better and we are a good team so we can win this game," said the former winger who has been poor in the Italian Serie A.

In that match, midfielder Wenderson Galeno became the star of Porto's victory. He scored a brace and made two assists.

Galeno had already broken into Shakhtar Donetsk's goal when the game had only been running for nine minutes. A goal came after Evanilson's cross was completed with a short-range shot.

But Shakhtar was able to equalize through Danylo Sikan in the 29th minute. Porto took the lead again after Galeno scored his second goal just before the first half ended. Score 2-1 to Porto closing 45 minutes early.

In the second half, Porto did not lower the tempo of the game. The hosts moved their opponents to increase their advantage.

The result was not in vain after Mehdi Taremi broke into the opponent's goal in the 62nd minute. This time, Galeno, who played a role in the goal process by providing assists to Taremi.

But Shakhtar refused to give up. Their attack managed to trouble the Porto defense.

Evidently, the host midfielder Stephen Eustaquio instead scored an own goal in the 72nd minute. The score changed to 3-2 for Porto.

However, Porto was unstoppable by scoring two goals in a row. It started with veteran Pepe who scored after welcoming Galeno's assists in the 75th minute.

Next, Francisco Conceicao solidified Porto's lead to 5-2 in the 82nd minute.

The visitors were only able to reduce the lag through Eguinaldo in the 88th minute. There were no goals in extra time and a score of 5-3 for Porto lasted until the end of the match.