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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Leipzig battle past Porto for first Champions League win

Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen (R) and team mates celebrate REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BERLIN (Reuters) - RB Leipzig struck twice in three minutes to beat Porto 3-2 at home on Tuesday, securing their maiden Champions League victory and moving into second place in Group G.

Last season's Bundesliga runners-up kept possession well throughout and scored three times in a topsy-turvy first half through Willi Orban, Emil Forsberg and Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Leipzig, who recovered from their defeat to Besiktas on the previous matchday, have four points, one more than their Portuguese opponents, who are third.

Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 RB Leipzig's Konrad Laimer (2nd R) and team mates celebrate after the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

The big surprise in the Porto lineup was the absence of World Cup winner Iker Casillas, with the Spanish keeper being left on the bench in favour of Jose Sa, a 24-year-old making his debut in the competition.

The gamble backfired when Sa spilled a Bruma shot into the path of Leipzig captain Orban, who put the hosts ahead after eight minutes.

Porto levelled 10 minutes later when a deep throw-in was headed on to Porto danger man Vincent Aboubakar and he volleyed home for his third goal in two Champions League matches.

Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 Porto's Ivan Marcano looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

But Leipzig, with striker Timo Werner on the bench, struck twice in three minutes with Forsberg beating Sa, after a one-two with Marcel Sabitzer in the 38th, and 20-year-old France Under-21 international Augustin slotting in.

Porto reduced the deficit a minute before halftime but the hosts kept possession in the second half and saw out the match.

Augustin had two more golden chances to restore their two-goal lead, but their first-half goals proved enough for the Champions League newcomers to earn their first three points in this competition.

Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 RB Leipzig's Bruma in action REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 Porto's Vincent Aboubakar celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 RB Leipzig's Jean-Kevin Augustin (L) celebrates a goal with Kevin Kampl (C) and Marcel Halstenberg (R) REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Soccer Football - Champions League - RB Leipzig vs FC Porto - Red Bull Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany - October 17, 2017 RB Leipzig's Emil Forsberg celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
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