Sol Cambell became an actor

FC PORTO 2
- Varela 11,
- Falcao 51

ARSENAL 1
- Campbell 18

**PORTO - **Porto defeated Arsenal 2-1 in action from Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie.

The winners took the lead in the 10th minute through an own goal. Back-up goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was blamed for the goal after he spilled a Silvestre Varela’s cross.

The Polish goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Manuel Almunia, was caught out of position to gift Porto an early lead, before then picking up a back-pass which led to another goal at the start of the second half.

Overall, foster children Arsène Wenger has well performed. Despite playing against those who are unstable to provide sporadic attacks to the defense area Porto.

In the end the result swung on the events of the 51st minute. That is when Fabianski was ruled to have picked up Campbell's back pass and Falcao scored from a quickly-taken free-kick. Arsenal, and particularly Arsène Wenger, complained loudly that the referee should not have allowed play to restart that swiftly.

Right or wrong, that decision will be the lasting memory of this game.

Of course, Wenger's side can all but erase it if they secure safe passage to the last eight with a stereotypical "1-0 to the Arsenal".

However, Sol Campbell's header which had levelled at 1-1 could yet prove to be crucial when the teams return to the Emirates Stadium in a fortnight's time.

fabianski fatal mistakes

Campbell passes the ball back to his keeper, who inexplicably picks the ball up. That's an indirect free kick. Of course it is! Why on earth didn't Fabianski kick clear?!? And, adding high farce to farce, the keeper then hands the ball back immediately. Porto take a super-fast free kick, the ball being tapped by Ruben Micael immediately to Falcao, who strokes the ball into an empty net as the keeper and all his defenders stand around like loons. What a pair of goals Arsenal have conceded tonight.

Teams:
Porto: Helton, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Alvaro Pereira, Jorge Fucile, Fernando, Raul Meireles (Tomas Costa, 68 ')), Ruben Micael (Fernando Belluschi, 85'), Radamel Falcao, Varela, Hulk (Mariano Gonzalez, 81 ' )

Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen, Sol Campbell, Gaël Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Denilson, Cesc Fábregas, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri (Emmanuel Eboue, 88 '), Tomas Rosicky (Theo Walcott, 68'), Nicklas Bendtner (Carlos Vela , 83 ')