PORTO, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 21: Zaidu Sanusi of Porto in action during the Liga Portugal Bwin 2022 match between Porto and Benfica at Dragão Stadium on October 21, 2022 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Jessica Santana ATPImages/Getty Images)
Zaidu Sanusi and his FC Porto teammates suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Estádio do Dragão in Friday’s O Clàssico against Benfica.
FC Porto were unbeaten at home in 36 Primeira Liga matches, dating back two years ago, when Maritimo pipped them 3-2.
On Friday, the Portuguese champions played with 10 men for 45 minutes, after the sending off of Stephen Eustáquio in the first half, for a second yellow.
Sérgio Conceição’s men held their own against bitter rivals, Benfica, u til the 62nd minute when the defence was eventually breached.
Rafa Silva was teed up by David Neres for the winner after several chances went begging.
Meanwhile, Conceição started his strongest XI, handing even Zaidu Sanusi his 8th appearance of the season, but the LB struggled in the latter stages of the game before he was eventually replaced.
In the reverse fixture last season a late goal from the Nigeria decided won Porto the title. But the 25 year-old could not impact the game so on Friday.
Zaidu was taken off in the 77th minute, in a like for like substitution that saw Wendell come in to close out the game.
The defeat saw Porto fall further behind their rivals on the Liga standings by six points and in second place after 10 rounds of matches.
With hours to his first ever appearance in a European final, Feyenoord FW, Cyriel Dessers has set his sights on hoisting the trophy and handing the Legendary Jose Mourinho his first defeat in a major European tournament final.