Beaten in the first leg (0-1) on March 9, Porto had not really promised wonders for this return match: the Dragons, who are aiming for a third national title in five seasons, give priority to the Championship, which they lead in front of Sporting Lisbon while a derby awaits them on Sunday, on the lawn of Boavista. But OL were a little scared all the same, Thursday evening, in a full stadium, leaving this second leg with an unstable draw, after opening the scoring, which could have promised them a quieter evening ( 1-1). The essentials had been acquired in the first leg: Bosz’s players reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, a competition where they showed a better face than in Ligue 1.
This hint of concern seemed far away for OL, however, after opening the scoring in the 13th minute: following a remarkable service from outside the right of Léo Dubois, in the middle of three Portuguese players, Dembélé s took the ball with the thigh, on the edge of offside, resisted Mbemba’s charge and opened the scoring, for his first goal of the season in C3. This open window towards the quarters was slammed by Pepê just before the half-hour mark, for what will remain one of the goals of the season.
Pepe’s jewel
At the start, a Portuguese recovery, while OL were in the high phase, and a recovery from 30 meters. Three assists to turn the game around, when there were only two Lyonnais on the cover in their camp. Then Pepê carried the ball 20 meters and served Vieira on the right, which returned him well: the Brazilian striker was near the penalty spot to take back his cross, with a splendid volley (27th).
At 1-1, too floating in the marking, the Lyonnais saw the light dim, but they held the house in the second period. Served by Paqueta, Dembélé missed a duel against Diogo Costa in the 63rd and two minutes later, Bosz made a double change: Dembélé, the scorer, was replaced by Kadewere and Faivre, by Aouar. Who got a great opportunity, following a technical show and a service from Paqueta. But his strike was repelled by Diogo Costa (73rd). Porto, for their part, made their five substitutions and each team had a match point, in added time. Without moving a score finally frozen from the first period.