THE PRIMAVERA CAN'T TURN IT AROUND: 3-1 TO PORTO

The Primavera lost to Porto: their second defeat in three Youth League games. It ended 3-1 in Vila Nova de Gaia in a game that got away from the Rossoneri between the end of the first half and the start of the second; the Dragões scored either side of the break, with Sousa and Candé getting the goals. Roback's goal midway through the second half made it an interesting final period as the Rossoneri pushed for an equaliser, culminating in a clear opportunity for Rossi in the 82nd minute. Porto ended the contest in injury time, however, with a goal from Dabo. The hosts, who did win this competition in 2019, preyed upon the defensive insecurities of Giunti's side, who found, in any case, the strength to react and get themselves back into the game, almost completing the comeback.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM PORTO V AC MILAN

REPORT
It was a slow start to proceedings with very few chances for either side. The first real opportunity fell the way of the Rossoneri, who, in the 31st minute, went close to taking the lead through Traorè free-kick taken from the left. Goalkeeper Cardoso was beaten but the ball struck the crossbar. This hint of danger awoke the Dragões, who, one minute later, also threatened through Candé, who got to Boaitey's cross but fired over from a few yards out. The hosts did take the lead in the 44th minute; Sousa got between Obaretin and Kerkez and fired past Pseftis as he came off his line. It got worse just after the break; not even a minute into the second half, Candé bent it past a surprised Pseftis to double the Dragões' lead. The second goal took all of the wind out of the sails for the Rossoneri, who struggled to get themselves back into the game, in spite of a raft of substitutions. AC Milan did break through in the 66th minute, though; Traorè played in Roback in the centre of the box and Emil - at the second attempt - stuck it into the back of the net to halve the deficit. AC Milan started to up the ante and press for an equaliser and came so close to levelling the score. In the 82nd minute, Bozzolan found Rossi in space in the penalty area but his header from close range whistled wide. In added time, Porto killed the game off on the break; Dabo took it into the box and unleashed a powerful effort to beat Pseftis and make it 3-1.

MATCH DETAILS

PORTO 3-1 AC MILAN

PORTO (4-3-3): Cardoso; Macedo (68' Fernandes), Vinhas, Bras, Pinheiro; Folha, Abreu, Sousa (73' Dabo); Boaitey (54' Monteiro), Meireles (68' Antunes), Candè (75' Assunçao). Subs.: Machado, Carvalho. Coach: Tavares.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Pseftis; Coubis, Bosisio, Obaretin (59' Makengo), Kerkez; Robotti (59' Bright), Foglio (80' Polenghi), Gala; Traorè (80' Bozzolan), Roback, El Hilali (49' Rossi). Subs.: Nava, Alesi. Coach: Giunti.

Referee: Griffith (GAL).
Goals: 44' Sousa (P), 46' Candé (P), 66' Roback (M), 90+3' Dabo (P).
Bookings: 13' Obaretin, 29' Meireles, 41' Folha, 45' Robotti, 45+2' Traorè, 47' Foglio, 51' Vinhas, 85' Roback. 

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