Martinez double helps Porto march on

Former titleholders Porto made it three out of three with a pulsating 3-2 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev to maintain possession of Group A here on Wednesday. A fiery opening at the Estadio do Dragao saw the 2004 champions take the lead on the quarter of an hour mark. Lucho Gonzalez got the better of a brace of Dynamo players on the edge of the box, with Silvestre Varela pouncing on his cut-back to shoot into the top corner of Alexander Shovkovsky's net. Down at the other end Shovkovsky's counterpart Helton did well to block Miguel Veloso's teasing low 30-metre effort as the Ukrainians went in search of a quick equaliser. They didn't have to wait long, with Oleg Gusev leaping over the Porto defence to glance in Portugal international Veloso's well-taken corner with a close-range header in the 21st minute. That was the first home goal Porto had conceded in all competitions since the start of the season. Porto, intent on maintaining their best European start since the 1999/2000 season, regained the initiative with nine minutes left of the first period. James Rodriguez' through ball set up his fellow Colombian Jackson Martinez who after rounding Dynamo's Yevgen Khacheridy kept his cool to shoot past Shovkovsky. The second half mirrored the first in terms of intensity, with Czech Republic referee Pavel Kralovec kept occupied trying to keep a lid on emotions. Porto coach Vitor Pereira replaced Varelo with Ghana international Christian Atsu. With 18 minutes remaining some excellent work from Atsu's fellow west African, Brown Ideye then put Dynamo back level. The Nigeria forward earned what the visitors hoped would be a well earned share of the spoils when he skilfully controlled Andry Yarmolenko's assist with his chest, his shot deflected into the net by Helton. But Porto were to have the final say with Martinez getting his double, tapping into an empty goal at the far post after a defence-splitting cross from Argentine Lucho. Hard as they tried Dynamo were unable to find their third equaliser, leaving them in third spot on three points, behind Paris Saint Germain in second on six and Porto in pole on nine.