The game at the Dragon was very eventful but in the end, it was the Portuguese champions who emerged triumphant
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi scored the opening goal for Porto to help them secure an impressive 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen at the Estadio Do Dragao.
After losing 4-0 to Club Brugge last time out the Portuguese champions knew that they had to bring something special to the table when they hosted German side Bayer Leverkusen in Portugal.
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao handed Wendell a starting shirt ahead of Nigeria’s Sanusi.
The first half was not short of drama as VAR ruled out goals on both sides. Bayer Leverkusen could have gone ahead in the first half but for Patrick Shick’s poor penalty that was saved by Porto shot stopper Diogo Coast.
Porto boss Conceicao opted to introduce Sanusi into the game in the 63rd minute and that was the decision that turned the game on its head.
Within six minutes of his introduction into the game, Zanusi put Porto in front with a sublime finish that left Leverkusen goalkeeper Hradecky. helpless in goal.
Bayer Leverkusen started piling the pressure immediately after they went a goal down, but the Portuguese champions held their own.
They will just three minutes to full-time Brazilian star colony got on the end of a pass from Taremi and finished calmly to put Porto two to the good.
Leverkusen man Frimpong was sent off just a minute after his side conceded the second. That was enough to kill any thoughts of a comeback for the Germans.
It ended 2-0 for Porto, and the win takes them to second place, six points behind group leaders Club Brugge.
Sanusi’s strike was his first for Porto in the Champions League.
