At Doosan Arena in Plzen, a dramatic UEFA Europa League League Stage clash ended 1–1 as FC Porto struck at the death to deny a depleted Plzen side a famous win. On a night when Matěj Vydra’s first-half red card left the hosts playing more than half the match with 10 men, Miroslav Koubek’s team clung to an early lead before finally cracking in the 90th minute. The draw leaves Porto on 14 points and comfortably in the play-off positions, while Plzen move to 11 points, extending their unbeaten European run but missing the chance to climb higher in the overall table.
First-half analysis
Plzen made the perfect start. On 6', Lukáš Červ opened the scoring, finishing a move created by midfielder Matěj Valenta to give the Czech side an early 1–0 lead. That goal set the tone for a half in which Plzen, set up in a 3-4-1-2, looked compact and opportunistic, while Porto tried to settle into their 4-3-3.
The hosts’ aggression had a cost. Defender Merchas Doski picked up a yellow card for a foul on 13', hinting at the intensity of Plzen’s defensive work. Koubek made his first change on 34', withdrawing Christophe Kabongo and introducing forward Prince Kwabena Adu, a like-for-like switch that kept the structure intact but freshened the attacking line.
The half’s turning point came in stoppage time. On 45+4', Vydra was sent off for a professional handball, leaving Plzen down to 10 men. Just moments earlier, VAR had confirmed a penalty decision for Porto at 45+3', with Jakub Kiwior at the heart of the incident, but the event log provides no subsequent penalty outcome, so the score remained 1–0 at the break. Still, the combination of a confirmed spot-kick decision and a red card framed a chaotic end to the half and shifted momentum firmly towards the visitors.
Second half & tactical shifts
With numerical superiority and chasing the game, Francesco Farioli wasted no time reshaping Porto. At 46', he replaced forward Borja Sainz with Pepê, a fresh attacking option to probe Plzen’s restructured defence. The visitors continued to adjust on 56', as midfielder Rodrigo Mora made way for Gabri Veiga and right-back Alberto Costa was replaced by Francisco Moura. Those twin changes suggested a push for more creativity in midfield and renewed energy down the flank.
Koubek responded on 60', sacrificing forward Denis Višinský for defender Milan Havel. That substitution underlined Plzen’s shift from their initial attacking 3-4-1-2 into a more conservative, survival-minded shape, prioritising defensive solidity with a man down.
The match grew increasingly fractious. Jan Bednarek was booked for a foul on 70', while Porto’s territorial pressure intensified. Farioli doubled down on attacking intent at 71', withdrawing full-back Martim Fernandes for midfielder Alan Varela and forward William Gomes for striker Deniz Gül. Those moves further tilted the balance towards an aggressive, front-foot Porto side.
Plzen, under siege, resorted to game management. Adu was booked for time wasting on 72', a clear sign the hosts were clinging to their lead. Tempers flared in midfield: Pablo Rosario saw yellow for argument on 74', and Kiwior followed with his own caution for dissent on 85'. In between, Koubek’s 83' substitution of Tomáš Ladra for Adrian Zeljković added fresh legs in midfield to help plug the gaps.
The resistance finally broke on 90'. Deniz Gül, introduced less than 20 minutes earlier, found the equaliser for Porto, with Kiwior providing the assist. It was a reward for Farioli’s sustained attacking changes and Porto’s relentless pressure against 10 men, and a gut-punch for a Plzen side that had defended their lead for over 80 minutes.
Statistical deep dive
The numbers underline Porto’s control of the ball and territory. The Portuguese side enjoyed 67% possession and completed 398 of 471 passes at 85% accuracy, circulating the ball with composure. Plzen, by contrast, had just 33% of the ball and completed 149 of 229 passes at 65%, conceding possession and relying on defensive organisation and quick transitions.
In attack, Porto’s superiority was stark. They attempted 19 total shots to Plzen’s 10, hitting the target 8 times compared to the hosts’ 2. The expected goals (xG) figures tell an even clearer story: Porto generated 2.07 xG, while Plzen managed just 0.29, highlighting how much more dangerous the visitors’ chances were. Yet, with the match finishing 1–1, Farioli’s side will feel they underperformed in front of goal, especially against a team reduced to 10 men before the interval.
Discipline also shaped the narrative. Plzen committed 11 fouls to Porto’s 12 but suffered the game’s only red card, Vydra’s dismissal fundamentally altering the contest. The hosts collected 2 yellow cards, while Porto received 3, many linked to fouls and arguments as frustration grew in the second half. Corner kicks (7–2 to Porto) and the shot profile underline how deeply Plzen were pushed back, with goalkeeper Florian Wiegele making 7 saves compared to just 1 for Diogo Costa.
Standings & implications
In the broader Europa League picture, the draw has contrasting meanings. Plzen move to 11 points from seven games (2 wins, 5 draws, 0 defeats) with a +4 goal difference (7 scored, 3 conceded). Their form line of DDDDW reflects resilience and an ability to avoid defeat, and they remain in a promotion spot for the 1/16-finals play-offs, though this missed opportunity may cost them a higher seeding.
Porto, now on 14 points with a +4 goal difference (10 scored, 6 conceded) and a record of 4 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, consolidate their stronger position in the top half of the league stage. Their form of DWWDL suggests some inconsistency, but this comeback away draw, even against 10 men, keeps them firmly on course for the Europa League knockouts and underlines their capacity to rescue results late on.
