FC Porto added another win – their seventh in seven games – in the 24/25 pre-season by beating Austrian champions Sturm Graz 2-0 in another test of the Dragons’ training camp in Austria. Grujic in the first half and Namasu in the second half scored the goals in the 2-0 win.
In the third and final match of the Porto players in the training camp in Austria – where they have already beaten Al Arabi and Austria Vienna – Vitor Bruno counted on Claudio Ramos, Martim Fernandes, David Carmo, Ze Pedro, Joao Mario, Grujic, Alan Varela, Nico Gonzalez, Ivan Jaime, Goncalo Borges and Namasu in the starting lineup.
The first minutes, in a match played in extreme heat, were calm, with the first dangerous move appearing in the 12th minute, when Gonzalo Borges on the right corridor made a diagonal pass and shot with his left foot, like a goalkeeper’s net.
Porto’s dominance became more evident and Alan Varela and Gonçalo Borges threatened again before the Dragons could gain any advantage. Gonçalo Borges started on the left, partnered by Martim Fernandes, and the young full-back, on the baseline, delivered a perfect cross to the first post, where Grujic looked to turn the ball in with a beautiful header.
Porto created some more chances in the first half, but the score was 1-0 at half-time, and the Blue and Whites continued unchanged into the second half. The second goal came in the 56th minute, scored by Danny Namasu. A ball was recovered by Nico Gonzalez, a deep pass to Gonçalo Borges on the right and a low winger’s cross was deflected by Danny Namasu at the near post.
Sturm Graz then had the best chance to score, but Porto also came close again, through Ivan Jaime. Vitor Bruno finally did it. Some changes, bringing on Andre Franco, Vasco Sousa, Fran Navarro and Rodrigo Moura and the pace of the game gradually slowed down.
The result did not change further, and this was the seventh win for Porto – and Vitor Bruno – in the pre-season 24/25, after victories over Tatabanya (4-2), Australia Vienna (3-1), Al-Arabi (4-0), Nacional da Madeira (4-1), Chaves (4-0), Sanjoanense (4-0).
Before the first official match of the season, scheduled for August 3, against Sporting in Aveiro, in the Super Cup, Porto will also face, at the Estadio do Dragao, Al-Nassr, in the presentation match for the fans, next Sunday.
