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- Porto 3 Schalke 1: Fahrmann heroics prove fruitless as hosts secure top spot
Porto 3 Schalke 1: Fahrmann heroics prove fruitless as hosts secure top spot
Ralf Fahrmann's fine performance was not enough to prevent Porto from beating Schalke to secure top spot in Champions League Group D.
Porto sealed top spot in Champions League Group D as two quickfire second-half goals helped them overcome Schalke 3-1.
Though both sides were certain of their places in the last 16 thanks to Galatasaray's earlier defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto knew that a victory would secure pole position with a game to spare.
And despite goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann's best efforts, Porto took control when Eder Militao headed home his first goal for the club in the 52nd minute and Jesus Corona made it two three minutes later.
With the crossbar denying Felipe a fluke goal, Nabil Bentaleb's late penalty set up a grandstand finish, but Moussa Marega's stoppage-time strike wrapped up the win.
That moved Sergio Conceicao's men on to 13 points, their only misstep in five group-stage games coming in the opening 1-1 draw with Schalke.
Fahrmann shone in the reverse fixture on matchday one and was at his best to keep out Danilo Pereira's rasping 15th-minute shot.
Schalke had their captain to thank once more four minutes later, Marega's curling effort forcing Fahrmann into a wonderful diving save to his left.
Hector Herrera squandered a great chance moments after the restart, but Porto were not to be denied for much longer – Militao rising highest to plant in a powerful header from Oliver Torres' cross.
Fahrmann was beaten again three minutes later, Corona exchanging passes with Yacine Brahimi before slotting into the bottom-left corner with the help of a deflection.
Felipe's audacious overhead kick almost stole the show, only for the woodwork to come to Schalke's rescue.
Torres' handball handed Schalke a lifeline, but Bentaleb's coolly taken penalty proved a mere consolation, with Marega's fourth Champions League goal of the season making sure of the points.