FC Porto secured a vital 2-1 away victory against VfB Stuttgart at the MHP Arena in the UEFA Europa League, with early goals from Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora proving decisive. Diogo Costa's exceptional goalkeeping was a key factor in securing the points for the visitors.
Stuttgart, sitting 23rd in their group with three points, needed a strong performance to boost their European hopes. Porto, ranked 7th with a perfect six points, aimed to maintain their impressive start in the competition. This encounter was crucial for both sides' continental aspirations.
Porto started sharply, quickly asserting their intent. Terem Moffi broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, guiding home an assist from B. Sainz. The powerful finish silenced the home crowd early.
Just six minutes later, Porto doubled their advantage. Rodrigo Mora slotted past Alexander Nübel in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Zaidu to put the visitors firmly in control. The rapid-fire goals stunned Stuttgart.
VfB Stuttgart showed resilience, fighting back before halftime. Deniz Undav pulled one back for the home side in the 40th minute, linking up with B. El Khannouss. His precise strike injected much-needed hope into the German team.
The first half concluded with Porto's William Gomes receiving a yellow card in stoppage time for delaying the game. Stuttgart faced a significant challenge ahead in the second half, needing to overturn the one-goal shortfall.
Trailing 2-1 at the break, Stuttgart knew they needed a strong second-half performance. Porto, however, would look to maintain their defensive shape and manage the game effectively to protect their lead.
The second half began with a yellow card for Stuttgart defender F. Jeltsch in the 48th minute for a foul. Porto made a triple substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on V. Froholdt, Pepe, and D. Gul to refresh their attacking and midfield lines.
Stuttgart responded with tactical changes of their own in the 63rd minute, with E. Demirovic replacing T. Tomas. Porto's Thiago Silva earned a yellow card shortly after in the 65th minute, reflecting the growing tension.
The home side thought they had found an equalizer in the 70th minute. A. Stiller slotted the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. This decision proved to be a critical turning point for Stuttgart's comeback hopes.
The game became more fractured towards the end, with several late yellow cards issued. Porto's A. Varela and Zaidu were booked for delay of game and unsportsmanlike conduct, while B. El Khannouss received a caution for Stuttgart. Porto defended resolutely to protect their lead.
Despite dominating possession with 60% and attempting 14 total shots, Stuttgart only managed 7 shots on target. Porto were more clinical, converting two of their five shots on target from 13 total shots, despite having only 40% possession. Porto's expected goals (xG) of 0.93 slightly surpassed Stuttgart's 0.63, reflecting their efficiency. Diogo Costa made six crucial saves for Porto, a standout performance.
This hard-fought 2-1 victory consolidates FC Porto's position at the top of their Europa League group, extending their perfect record to two wins from two matches. VfB Stuttgart will need to regroup quickly for their next European challenge to keep their qualification hopes alive in a competitive group.
