Deco and Carvalho power Porto to victory

FC PORTO lived up to their billing as potential Champions League winners with a convincing win over French champions Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final last night.

FC Porto 2 Lyon 0

Jose Mourinho's men, reigning UEFA Cup champions, had diminutive striker Deco and defender Ricardo Carvalho to thank for goals either side of the interval. Lyon will host Porto in a fortnight knowing they will have to score at least three goals if they want to turn the tide.

After just three minutes Porto, who knocked out Manchester United in the last round, signalled their intentions when Brazilian midfielder Carlos Alberto let fly a 25-yard shot which sailed low and wide.

Lyon striker Peguy Luyindula then wasted a good shooting chance 10 yards out on the left of Vitor Baia's goal, the Frenchman shooting a weak shot wide.

Porto's South African striker Benni McCarthy had two first-half chances, his first coming on the quarter hour when he right-footed a deep midfield cross but he was badly positioned and his shot went over Gregory Coupet's goal.

McCarthy's second came 10 minutes later when he pounced on a rebound from Lyon defender Eric Deflandre but failed to make good contact with a bouncing ball and it went wide.

A minute before half time Deco struck, the little Portuguese lifting his right knee to send the ball past Coupet from close range after McCarthy had first-timed a long cross into the area.

In the second half Lyon coach Paul Le Guen was forced to replace the injured Juninho with Vikash Dhorasoo. Juninho's absence did not prove crucial, but from the outset Lyon had trouble containing their hosts.

Lyon enjoyed a rare ray of hope in the 65th minute when Dhorasoo did well to set up Elber and Luyindula on the right flank but their move broke down on the Porto byline.

Nothing seemed to be going Lyon's way, and even a free-kick from Brazilian defender Edmilson skewed well wide of the target. A minute later Porto defender Carvalho all but sealed the win when he rose above the Lyon defence to head home a free-kick from the right past a static Coupet.

FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Pedro Emanuel, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Costinha (Bosingwa 78), Deco, Maniche, Carlos Alberto (Jankauskas 58), Alenitchev (Ricardo Fernandes 82), McCarthy.

LYON: Coupet, Deflandre (Reveillere 74), Edmilson, Essien, Diarra, Juninho (Dhorasoo 46), Malouda, Muller, Govou, Luyindula, Elber.

Refeee: Terje Hauge(Norway).