Porto ease into last 16

Lucho fires Porto ahead

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Porto secured their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Besiktas at the Estadio Dragao.

Goals from Lucho Gonzalez and Ricardo Quaresma eased the Portuguese side through as Group A winners along with Liverpool, who romped to a 4-0 victory in Marseille.

Needing a point to guarantee a place in the last 16, Porto never really looked like slipping up against the Turkish champions and after Lucho Gonzalez had fired them ahead in the 43rd minute the outcome was never in doubt.

Besiktas went for broke after the break bringing on an extra forward, but Quaresma made them pay with a decisive second midway through the second-half.

Impressive

Porto, who won 1-0 in Turkey earlier in the campaign, made an impressive start and dominated possession in the early stages.

Tarik Sektioui tested Rustu Recber with a long-range shot after only four minutes but the Turkish keeper saved comfortably.

Besiktas found themselves playing second fiddle in the opening 15 minutes and Lisandro Lopez was unlucky to have an effort ruled out for offside with a far post header when replays clearly showed the striker had timed his run well.

It took Besiktas 16 minutes to create their first opportunity but Ibrahim Toraman headed well wide from Rodrigo Tello's corner.

Despite enjoying plenty of the ball Porto rarely threatened to break the deadlock.

Rescue

Five minutes before the break veteran keeper Rustu came to the Turkish champions' rescue when he palmed Bosingwa's low shot around the post.

However, two minutes before the interval Porto took the lead as the visitors were caught cold at the back.

Porto's Raul Meireles looped a hopeful ball into the box, Rustu and his defender's stopped and Sektioui side-footed to Lucho Gonzalez who fired home from six yards despite the home side's protests for offside.

Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam went for broke by bringing on another striker Ibrahim Akin for defender Burak Yilmaz at the interval.

And the move almost paid instant dividends when Bobo found Serdar Ozkan but Helton saved swiftly at the foot of his post.

The visitors stormed forward and for the first time Porto found themselves stretched at the back.

Close range

But by committing men forward they began to leave gaps at the back and Rustu had to be at his best to deny Quaresma's close-range header after a flowing move.

However, Porto wrapped things up in the 62nd minute when Quaresma raced clear from Lisandro's through ball to slot the ball wide of the helpless Rustu.

Besiktas, thrashed 8-0 at Anfield three weeks ago, never gave up and battled to the end but never looked capable of upsetting the home side.

In Matias Delgado, Besiktas had the night's outstanding player but lacked the firepower to cause an upset and finish bottom of the group.