The Blue Dragons regained the lead with an agonizing goal from Hector Herrera to Benfica, which has won the league the last 4 years

FC Porto has had a changing season, as it was the undisputed leader of the Portuguese League for more than 20 dates. However, on April 2 fell to second place when losing against Belenenses on the date 28. That slip was a benefit for a team, which took advantage of the situation. This team is its greatest historical rival: the SL Benfica, club that would face on the 30th date of the championship.

Leer en español: Porto: ¿Acabará la hegemonía del Benfica gracias a un mexicano?

Before the game, the blue club of the city of Oporto received several messages of support from great legends of the club. Radamel Falcao Garcia, James Rodriguez, and Hulk were some of the blue idols that encouraged Porto before the classic against Benfica. "The porter spirit will lead us to victory," said Falcao; "Always believe and fight to the end," said James; and "In the classic everyone enters the field," added Hulk. The Porto was more than motivated to Benfica field to win the match and recover the tip.

The game, which was played at Estádio da Luz del Benfica, was a vibrant encounter between the two leaders of the league. Several goal actions were presented for each team, but the skills of the Porto players weighed more. Iker Casillas had an outstanding performance, because he drowned out the goal scoring of Benfica, but it was the Mexican Héctor Herrera, who came out as the figure of the game to score a superb goal in the 90th minute of the match.

Sérgio Conceição, coach of Porto, was amazed by the goal of the Mexican Herrera, because it was made halfway and about to end the game, so this anthological goal will remain in the history of the classics of Portugal. "I know the club that I represent and putting a Mexican as a captain is not a normal decision. I started working with him this year and reaffirm why I made that decision, because I made him my team captain. He is a great man and a fabulous professional", said Conceição, who blindly trusts the 27-year-old Mexican.

Héctor Herrera is the soul of the team, because although it is true that he does not score many goals, he is fundamental in the game system and relevant in the team's state of mind. The Mexican came to Porto in June 2013, and since then he has scored 26 goals and has made 22 assists in 180 games. The captain of the team has only managed one Supercopa of Portugal with Porto, so winning this league is paramount for the Mexican and for the whole club.

Benfica have dominated the Portuguese League in recent years, having won the last four leagues consecutively. However, this hegemony seems to be about to reach its end, as Porto is leading four days of the end of the league. Winning the classic was a blow of authority by Porto and Mexican Herrera. At the end of this season, there could be the title number 28 for the 'Blue Dragons', the first for the Mexican captain, and the first for the club since 2013.

Latin American Post | Javier Aldana
Translated from “ Porto: ¿Acabará la hegemonía del Benfica gracias a un mexicano?”