Estoril Praia Stuns Porto To Claim Historic Victory

Resilient Estoril Shocks Portuguese Giants

In a thrilling upset, G.D. Estoril Praia defeated FC Porto 3-1 at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in the Primeira Liga on Saturday. Estoril, who had not beaten Porto in their last five meetings, put in a resolute performance to secure a famous victory.

Clinical Finishing Sinks Porto

Estoril took the lead in the 25th minute when Andre Franco capitalized on a defensive error to slot home from close range. Porto responded well and equalized through Mehdi Taremi's penalty in the 38th minute.

However, Estoril regained the lead in the 52nd minute when Joaozinho fired a stunning long-range effort into the top corner. The home side then sealed the victory in the 85th minute when Erison drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.

Estoril's Defensive Resolve

Estoril's victory was built on a solid defensive display. The team worked tirelessly to close down Porto's attacking threats and limited the visitors to just a handful of chances.

Goalkeeper Dani Figueira made several crucial saves, including a brilliant block from Taremi in the second half. The win moves Estoril up to fourth place in the Primeira Liga standings, while Porto remains in second place.

Nuno Santo's Tactical Masterclass

Credit must go to Estoril coach Nuno Santo for his tactical masterclass. Santo set his team up in a compact 4-4-2 formation, with a focus on defending deep and hitting Porto on the counterattack.

The plan worked to perfection, as Estoril frustrated Porto's attempts to break down their defense and punished them with clinical finishing on the break.

Reaction from Both Camps

"We are delighted with the victory," said Santo after the game. "Porto is a great team, but we worked hard and followed the game plan perfectly. This is a massive result for us."

Porto coach Sergio Conceicao was disappointed with the defeat. "We did not play well enough today," he said. "We made too many mistakes and were punished by a very good Estoril team. We need to learn from this and improve."