Champions League Group G wrap: Porto overturn Shakhtar deficit

Hulk’s 40-yard free kick was the highlight of FC Porto’s perfect start in Group G Champions League action while APOEL Nicosia also won.

The Portuguese champions came from a goal behind with Hulk’s wonder goal and a Kleber tap-in cancelling Luiz Adriano’s opener for Shakhtar Donetsk.

The hosts were awarded a penalty just five minutes in at the Eustadia do Dragao after James Rodriguez was brought down under a clumsy Yaroslav Rakitskiy challenge.

Hulk was the man to step up but saw his shot denied by the post and they were made to pay by Shakhtar seven minutes later when Adriano pounced.

Willian’s long-range effort was stopped by Helton but the Porto keeper could not quite get a grasp on the ball with Adriano nipping in to tap home and make it 1-0.

Hulk made up for his earlier miss with his sublime free kick on 28 minutes, and the tide started to swing considerably when defender Rakitskiy was sent from the field for a dangerous lunge on Joao Moutinho just before half-time.

Short across the backline, the Ukrainians made an enforced change and removed forward Eduardo, replacing him with defender Oleksandr Kucher, which changed the complexion of the match.

Kleber profited from James Rodriguez’s fine run after the break to find the net in the 51st minute, and despite more late pressure from Porto, the hosts were denied a third.

In Cyprus, APOEL recorded their first ever Champions League win after three amazing minutes in the second half saw them claw back to win 2-1 over Russian Premier League champions Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Gustavo Manduca and Ailton netted goals within minutes of each other as APOEL recorded the shock victory after the visitors had taken the lead in the 63rd minute through Konstantin Zyryanov.

The opening half was a drab affair with little in the way of incisive play from either side, but it was after the interval that the drama unfolded.

Manduca finished emphatically for APOEL within ten minutes of Zyryanov’s neatly taken goal for Zenit.

Ailton then tucked home a composed right-foot shot from just inside the box to mark a significant switch in momentum.

Zenit’s hopes of equalising were dashed when Bruno Alves was sent off with a second yellow for a cynical challenge on Ailton who was through on goal.

Next up for APOEL is a trip to Ukraine where they will meet Shakhtar, while Zenit face a tough challenge at home against Porto.