FC Porto stayed on course for a place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a 2-0 home win over 10-man Royal Antwerp thanks to Evanilson’s first-half penalty and veteran Pepe’s late header in Tuesday’s Group H clash.
Brazilian Evanilson, who scored a hat-trick as Porto beat the Belgians 4-1 away in their previous UEFA Champions League game last month, slotted home a 32nd-minute penalty after Gyran Kerk’s clumsy foul on Stephen Eustaquio.
Porto took control of the game after Antwerp midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp was sent off seven minutes into the second half.
Despite the numerical advantage, Porto had to wait until a minute for their second goal, headed by 40-year-old Pepe.
The result sees Porto move nine points clear of leaders Barcelona, with both sides three points ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk, who stunned the Catalans 1-0 on Tuesday.
Antwerp’s fourth defeat in a row means they have no chance of finishing in the top two, even with two games to go.
Porto Player Rating
GK- Costa: 7.1
LB- Sanusi: 7.7
CB- carmo: 7.6
CB- Pepe: 8.6
LB- Mario: 7.8
CMD: Varela : 7.8
MF: Eustaquio: 8.1
MF: Franco: 7.4
LW: PEPE: 7.6
CF- Taremi: 6.6
CF- Evanilson :8.0