By CHRIS WRIGHT
Two Brazilian players of great stature were to determine the outcome of the top-of-the-table clash between FC Porto and
SC Olhanense.
One the hero, centre-forward Hulk, for the home side and the villian, centre-back Mauricio, for the visitors.
Hulk, born Givanildo Vieira de Souza, received the nickname due to his resemblance to actor Lou Ferrigno, who played the comic book hero.
The stocky and powerful dynamo started the season in impressive fashion, scoring seven times in his first five official matches, including a hat-trick against Genk in the UEFA Europa League’s playoffs.
Porto were at full strength while Olhanense were missing the injured Nuno Piloto and Yontcha, who were replaced by Delson and veteran striker Djalmir.
Hulk had the ball in the net after only four minutes but was correctly ruled off-side. Porto camped in the visitors half with the Algarveans continually chasing shadows.
The league leaders, with their 100 per cent league record and six internationals, dominated the play and took the lead midway through the first period. Hulk cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful shot. Moretto, diving to his right, parried the ball but Otamendi was on hand to give Porto the lead.
Olhanense did well to stand firm but with only seconds of the first-half remaining Mauricio made a disastrous mistake. His lazy cross field pass was readily intercepted by Hulk, who powered his way past the lunging José Gonçlaves. With only Moretto to beat, he calmly smashed the ball into the far corner of the net. 2-0; game over.
Olhanense replaced Delson with Lulinha and started more lively in the second half. Fernando Alexandre and Vinicius worked hard in midfield while Paulo Sérgio once again covered most of the pitch as the visitors tried to retain possession.
In the 70th minute, on the one occasion that the visitors got behind the Porto defence, Djalmir’s cross eluded Lulinha and the chance went begging.
This was Olhanense’s first league defeat since late April when they lost at Benfica, a run of seven games undefeated.
