Hibs 1-1 Porto

SuperTortolano

Private Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Hibernian secured a draw in a pre-season friendly against Porto this evening, as part of their short warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

The match marked the fourth fixture of David Gray's pre-season calendar, after Hibs lost 1-0 to Shamrock Rovers and defeated Cliftonville 5-1 during their training camp on the outskirts of Dublin, and lost 2-1 to St Johnstone in a bounce game at HTC.

A trip to the reigning Portuguese champions presented a different level of test, but Hibs were able to hold Francesco Farioli's men to a 1-1 draw at the Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Centre, with Felix Passlack scoring the Leith side's goal as Porto failed to capitalise on a host of good chances.

Although the hosts were able to find the net through former Alaves and Norwich striker Borja Sainz, who opened the scoring in the dying embers of the first half, they let a number of goal-scoring opportunities pass them by in a strong attacking performance.

Hibs had also spurned an opportunity to open the scoring. Midfielder Josh Mulligan hit the crossbar from a crossing situation, with the rebound finding Callum Wright, who made his first start in a Hibs shirt. The 26-year-old couldn't put his rebound effort past Claudio Ramos in the Porto net, though.

Raphael Sallinger was called into action on a number of occasions, making good stops to deny a hungry Portuguese attack from causing any further damage.

Porto twice hit the woodwork throughout the match through Gabri Veiga and Alan Varela, scoring three goals which were eventually ruled out – two of them coming from Sainz himself.

However, with ten minutes to play, Passlack would get Hibs their equaliser.

The German wing-back restored parity at the far post, latching onto a cross and driving his effort home.

Sallinger was once again Hibs' saviour at the death, denying two Porto attackers a winning goal after Varela's effort hit the woodwork.

A tough match against experienced opposition offered Hibs further progress in their pre-season preparations and, in particular, helped to better embed their new signings into the fold.

Glasgow-born midfielder Azeem Abdulai was in from the start, with a 60-minute spell before being replaced by Miguel Chaiwa.

Former Wigan Athletic duo Callum Wright and Jason Kerr also started the match, with Kerr playing the full game in defence and Wright substituted off for Jacob MacIntyre with 30 minutes left to play.

A positive result will add further confidence and fitness to a Hibs side now on the cusp of their new UEFA Conference League campaign.

Hibs: Sallinger, Passlack, O’Hora, Kerr, Iredale (Megwa 61), Obita (C Cadden 61), Abdulai (Chaiwa 61), Mulligan (Joseph McGrath 77), Wright (MacIntyre 61), Boyle © (Klidjé 46), Elding (Molotnikov 61).

Subs not used: Smith
 
I think Passlack is going to be a big player for us this season. He started to really come on to a game last season and this preseason will do him a world of good.
I think your right Torto, he got forward well towards end of season. If he gets a good pre season he could kick on from last season
 
Aye he needs too, one of the issues last season.
I think one of the main issues was who his closing eleven were. He often set us up well to start a game strongly but so often the team that finished the game couldn't do it. So, I do agree that we need a strong starting 11, but having a number of options for the 11 that closes the game is just as important and they need to be strong options with the philosophy and tactics to go with them.
 
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Looks like a very good result, did Porto play all their first team players or was it their fringe players?
 
Have to say SDG and the squad needs to produce the goods after the post match reaction. Sounding positive and confident…………..c’mon the cabbage.
 
Hopefully Gray is close to deciding on his best 11 now
Close to being the fans' cliché that annoys me most.
"He doesn't even know his best XI😱!!"
This is not Aston Villa's 1980/81 campaign.
Does anyone seriously think a vibrant, thrusting, progressive, diverse, empathic, modern manager is going to field the same XI at Darkheid as he will at home to the Fermers?
Does anyone think our "best XI" for an away 2nd leg in #Q3 at, say, Braga or Ajax, should be the same, regardless of whether we'd somehow fluked a 2-0 win at ER, scrapped to a feisty 0-0, or been erse-raped and lucky to be only trailing 4-1?
In the era of five subs and any number of innovative - and idiotic - tactical and formation ideas, I'd like to think our manager holds the view that there is no "Best XI"
 
Close to being the fans' cliché that annoys me most.
"He doesn't even know his best XI😱!!"
This is not Aston Villa's 1980/81 campaign.
Does anyone seriously think a vibrant, thrusting, progressive, diverse, empathic, modern manager is going to field the same XI at Darkheid as he will at home to the Fermers?
Does anyone think our "best XI" for an away 2nd leg in #Q3 at, say, Braga or Ajax, should be the same, regardless of whether we'd somehow fluked a 2-0 win at ER, scrapped to a feisty 0-0, or been erse-raped and lucky to be only trailing 4-1?
In the era of five subs and any number of innovative - and idiotic - tactical and formation ideas, I'd like to think our manager holds the view that there is no "Best XI"
did you take loads of acid as a youth ?
 
did you take loads of acid as a youth ?
Nope.
Didn't even bother with drugs when in Bangkok.
First girlfriend OD'd on smack in the week of her 19th birthday - anniversary last Tues or Weds: they weren't sure exactly when she died.
Sort of put me off all types of drugs.
When users come back down, or sober up, or get home from the church, mosque, stadium, casino or bookie, the shite they were trying to avoid facing is always still there.
 
With the relatively small turnover of players we've had - by modern standards - pre-season is about tinkering and minor experimentation. Results shouldn't be important - unless we're caned 6-0.
Same to an extent for McGlynn, Goodwin, Valakari, McCann & McLeish... and maybe MO'N.
For McInnes, Vrancken, Johansson, Robbo and Pressley, who's been thrown further under a bus by Nelms than MO'N has by Desmond at Darkheid, there's real work to be done.