Zaidu Sanusi was in action for FC Porto who held AC Milan to a 1-1 draw at San Siro in Group B, to boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 stage.
Sanusi, who gave a good account of himself featured for 90 minutes in the colours of the two-time Champions League winners.
Milan have failed to win each of their first four UEFA Champions League games in a campaign for the very first time.
Going into Wednesday’s clash, Milan had lost all three Champions League games and needed a victory to avoid crashing out.
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But it was a nightmare start for Milan on six minutes as Marko Grujic robbed Ismael Bennacer and set up Luis Diaz, who had time to take a touch and beat the on-rushing Ciprian Tatarusanu from eight yards.
Tatarusanu prevented a second goal, getting his fingertips to Grujic header on a free kick and pushing it past the far post before Sanusi and a Porto teammate could pounce.
Milan finally got an equaliser on 61 minutes when a free kick was deflected into the path of Olivier Giroud, he forced a save on the turn and Pierre Kalulu tried to roll across for a tap-in, which came accidentally from Chancel Mbemba.
Zlatan brahimovic had the ball in the net on 83 minutes, but Theo Hernandez was already offside when providing the assist.
The draw means Porto go second on five points while Milan remain rooted in bottom with just one point.
And in Spain Real Madrid pipped Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 to seal their third win in Group D.
The win saw Madrid maintain top spot on nine points in the standing.
By James Agberebi
8 Comments
vs FC Porto. I was focus on Zaidu Sanusi.He played for 90mins and did very well against world class strikers such as Ibrahimovic et al. This gives rise to the question why was he not invited. Collins the only full back in SE invited players list plays for a second tier team in Germany and cannot be compared to Collins who is a champion league player. Which criterion did Rohr use in dropping a champions league player for a division two player.
He wasn’t invited for the CAR game but he is in the list for the next 2 games but I don’t know why Rohr skipped him on the last one.. I still think he is better than Collins offensively and defensively.
My friend he is in this list. We can’t always throw in the blmae Everytime. You did not know he is in this present list. Haba let us calm down sometimes. For the CAR game rohr was right to exude him. He was low on confidence.
I rhink we are not fair on Collins. Though not the best but in recent times has done some good works. Though he is not on the level of sanusi
I think Rohr dropped him due to his low confidence and mistakes in previous games with Porto. Glad he (Sanusi) is regaining his form. Also delighted that he is on the current SE list.
Guys Rohr dropped Sanusi because he was frozen out of Porto’s first team by Coach Sergio Concecao, he didn’t even make the match day squad for Porto for more than a month so Rohr rightly dropped him due to his inactivity at Club level. New Porto Brazilian left back Wendell was preferred instead.Now Sanusi is back to the first team and playing so well hence his return to the National team. Information has it that Sanusi was initially frozen out of Porto first team not for football reasons, He incurred the wrath of Porto officials for his role in the botched loan move to West Ham last Summer. Porto wanted to raise funds tru Sanusi loan move to EPL but our guy insisted on a permanent move which scuttled the deal.This infuriated Porto board and the coach froze him out of the squad. But when the Coach realised that Sanusi is far better than than Wendell, he was reinstated as the first choice left back.
Nice insight . I hope he stays consistent. Consistency and African players are not necessarily best friends.
He should be the first choice left back for the SuperEagles. Collins hasn’t really convinced that he should be the first choice left back despite Sanusi’s initial struggles early this season. Zaidu will be a very viable option on the left wing back position in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation. With his current performance in the Champions league and he has since reclaimed his spot as Porto’s first choice left back he should definitely reclaim his spot in the SuperEagles first 11.
We need a left footed midfielder to boost our midfield, can we convert one the trio to a midfielder. Bassey,Collins and Sanusi ?