Martinez snatches late draw for Porto at Shakhtar

Two late goals from Jackson Martinez earned Porto a dramatic draw away to Shaktar Donetsk in their Group H game.

Goals from AlexTeixeira and Luiz Adriano seemed to have the tie sewn up for the Ukrainian champions, before the Colombian substitute snatched a point for the visitors

Shakhtar – forced to hold their home ties in Lviv, around 700 miles from their own city due to the ongoing troubles in Eastern Ukraine – played a high-pressing game that threatened to put them under pressure when Porto broke through its shackles.

The Ukrainian champions' midfielder Taison stung the hands of Fabiano with a curling effort after nine minutes, but it was the visitors who had the best of the first-half chances after that.

Porto had an opportunity to take the lead 34 minutes when Kuchar brought down Brahimi for a clear penalty.

The Algerian took the spot kick himself and struck it well, but Pyatov dived athletically to his right to save.

A dreadful mistake by teenage midfielder Oliver Torres allowed Teixeira to score the opening goal for Shakhtar on 51 minutes. Torres was robbed in his own box and Kucher rolled the ball across the six yard box for the Brazilian to poke home.

Porto pressed, but struggled to make significant chances in spite of the introduction of Martinez and his fellow Colombian Juan Quintero on 64 minutes.

Shakhtar looked to have settled the tie when another defensive error, this time by skipper Maicon, allowed Ilsinho to cross for Luiz Adriano to prod the ball in at the far post, with just six minutes remaining.

But a handball by Srna gifted a penalty lifeline to the Portuguese side, which Martinez gratefully accepted. And deep into injury time, the striker snuck across the face of goal to turn in a cross from Tello and grab a point for the visitors.

PRE-MATCH: Surprisingly, Porto manager Julen Lopetegui leaves top scorer Jackson Martinez on the bench.

9 ‘ CHANCE – Shakhtar: Taison receives the ball wide on the Shakhtar left, he cuts inside an a curling strike has Fabiano scrambling to palm away.

12’ – CHANCE – Porto: Danilo plays a one-two from just inside the Shakhtar half, wins a 50-50 challenge, and fires a rasping shot past Pyatov’s right-hand upright.

34’ – PENALTY SAVED! Brahimi is tripped in the box by Kucher; it’’s a clear penalty, but Brahimi’s spot-kick is saved at a stretch by Pyatov!

51' - GOAL! 1-0 Shakhtar – a mistake by teenage midfielder Oliver Torres allows Kucher to roll the ball across the box to Teixeira, who can’t miss!

84’ – GOAL! 2-0 Shakhtar! More shaky defending, this time by Maicon, and substitute Ilsinho chips a cross to Luiz Adriano at the far post, who can’t miss!

88’ – GOAL! PORTO – 2-1: Srna, who has otherwise had an excellent match, handles a cross in the area. Substitute Jackson Martinez tucks the penalty into the far corner.

90 +3’ - – GOAL! PORTO – 2-2! In the last minute of time added on, Tello breaks to the byeline and fires in a cross – and it’s that man Martinez again to fire home a last-gasp equaliser from six yards!

Shakhtar Donetsk have won just one of their last nine European matches (W1 D5 L3).

The Ukrainian champions have lost only two of their last 14 home games in the UEFA Champions League group stage, winning seven.

Ten of the 22 players who started the match tonight are Brazilian – with a further five amongst the substitutes.

Porto are now unbeaten in their five European meetings with Shakhtar Donetsk (W3 D2).

Porto are nine games unbeaten in 2014/15 but, after opening their campaign with five successive wins, have drawn four of their last five matches.

Why was Martinez left on the bench? Porto boss Julen Lopetegui chose not to start his top scorer this evening; it’s a decision he may now be rueing as the Colombian scored two late goals, and may have taken the earlier penalty which was missed by Yacine Brahimi. It would be interesting to know what was behind the Spaniard’s decision.

Jackson Martinez, Porto - Cruel on Yacine Brahimi, who was at the heart of Porto’s creative endeavours for much of the game, but it has to be Martinez. The Colombian striker added snap into the Porto attack and dramatically dragged his side back into the game at the death.

Shakhtar: Pyatov 8 Srna 7, Rakitskiy 6, Kucher 6, Azevedo 6; Stepanenko 6, Fernando 6, Douglas Costa 7 (sub: Bernard 6), Alex Teixeira 6, Taison 7 (sub: Ilsinho 7), Adriano 7.

Porto: Fabiano 7; Danilo 7, Maicon 6, Martins Indi 7, Alex Sandro 6; Óliver Torres 6, Herrera 7; Marcano 6 (sub: Adrian Lopez 6),Tello 7, Aboubakar 6 (sub: Martinez 8), Brahimi 8 (sub: Quintero 7).