Champions League: RB Leipzig secure historic win
October 17, 2017
RB Leipzig 3– 2 Porto
(Orban 8‘, Forsberg 38‘, Augustin 41‘ - Aboubakar 18‘, Marcano 44‘)
Three days after their last win in a five goal thriller, RB Leipzig were at it again as they brushed aside Porto to move up to second in the Group G table.
Despite their impressive display in overcoming Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Ralph Hasenhüttl made three changes to his starting line up. One of them was captain Willi Orban, and the returning center back made an early impact when he scrambled in a controversial opener at the front post.
Jose Sa, in for Iker Casillas in the Porto goal, spilt a regulation long range effort from Bruma but appeared to have recovered the ball as Jean-Kevin Augustin challenged. But again it slipped free and Orban slammed home. Replays showed he was several yards offside from the initial shot.
With a confidence borne of Saturday’s win, the hosts took the game to their opponents, pinning the 2004 winners back. But, their defensive deficiencies were on display again soon after when they lost two consecutive headers in the box before allowing Vincent Aboubakar to score his 9th in 10 games for the Portuguese giants.
The concession didn’t seem to affect the men in white, who once again went for the jugular. They found it seven minutes before the break, when Emil Forsberg, another of the returnees, collected a measured through ball from Marcel Sabitzer and cooly sidefooted home.
Jean-Kevin Augustin was rewarded for another encouraging display just three minutes later when the French striker capitalized on a woeful touch from Ivan Marcano to strike home the third.
But once again, the Red Bulls couldn’t hold their opponents at bay for long as Marcano immediately found redemption, volleying home a knockdown in the six yard box to score Porto’s second with just their third effort on goal.
After the goal flurry in the second half, the home side were a little more conservative after the break. Augustin wasted their best chance of the half, screwing wide when he had an option to the right.
But, despite some late Porto pressure, Leipzig held out without too many alarms to throw the race for second spot in the group wide open.