RB Salzburg 0-1 Porto Player Ratings: Jakub Kiwior 8.5/10 Rated as Late Drama Sees Porto Snatch 1-0 Victory

FC Porto snatched all three points with a moment of magic deep into stoppage time, leaving Salzburg completely heartbroken on their own turf. It was a cruel end for the home side, who thought they had taken the lead themselves earlier in the second half, only for VAR to mercilessly rule it out.

For long stretches of this Europa League encounter, it felt like neither side would find a breakthrough. The defences were on top, with chances few and far between. Porto did rattle the crossbar early on, a warning shot that Salzburg seemed to heed for a while.

They absorbed pressure, stayed organized, and waited for their one big moment. And when it came, it was decisive. A tough lesson for a young Salzburg side in this match, but a tactical masterclass from the visitors. Here are the RB Salzburg vs Porto player ratings.

RB Salzburg Player Ratings vs Porto

Here are the RB Salzburg player ratings vs Porto.

Goalkeeper

Alexander Schlager - 6.5: He made a couple of decent saves and looked composed for most of the game. He couldn't have done anything about the stunning winner. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, which put his team under needless pressure at times.

Defenders

Jacob Rasmussen - 6.5: A solid and aggressive display at the back. Won his battles and made some crucial clearances. Picked up a deserved yellow card for a clumsy challenge, showing his aggressive side can sometimes boil over.

Aleksa Terzic - 6.0: Tried to support the attack but his final ball was lacking. He was defensively sound for the most part, but we noticed he was loose in possession a few times. An average performance overall from him.

Stefan Lainer - 6.5: A very willing runner down the right flank. He even tested the keeper with a shot from distance. Defensively, he was reliable and made four important clearances. A professional display.

Joane Gadou - 6.0: Showed remarkable composure on the ball, boasting a 92% pass accuracy. However, he was caught out defensively and dribbled past on one occasion. A learning experience for the young defender.

Midfielders

Soumaïla Diabaté - 7.0: An all-action performance from the midfielder. He was everywhere, breaking up play and winning duels. His energy was infectious, though he did give away a couple of cheap fouls. A real engine room presence.

Mads Bidstrup - 7.0: Led by example in the heart of midfield. His ten ball recoveries speak for themselves. He was the team's heartbeat until he was forced off with an unfortunate injury late on. A true captain's knock.

Kerim Alajbegovic - 6.5: He was a livewire, especially in the first half. Always looked to shoot, taking five attempts, but his radar was off. His influence waned as the game progressed before he was substituted.

Moussa Yeo - 6.0: He created a couple of good chances but was also frustratingly wasteful in possession. Picked up a booking for a silly foul. What stood out to us was his energy, but it lacked control.

Forwards

Edmund Baidoo - 6.0: Showed moments of real quality with his dribbling. However, his decision-making was poor and he was caught offside at a key moment. He needs to add more end product to his game.

Petar Ratkov - 6.5: The unluckiest man on the pitch. He had that goal celebration cut short by VAR which was a real gut punch. He was a handful for the Porto defence, linking play effectively. Deserved more from the game.

Substitutes

Yorbe Vertessen - 5.5: Came on and got booked almost immediately. Didn't offer much of a threat.
Sota Kitano - 6.0: Looked tidy but couldn't find a way through the resolute Porto defence.
Karim Onisiwo - 6.0: Added some physical presence but had little impact.
Maurits Kjærgaard - 5.5: Also picked up a yellow card and struggled to get into the game's rhythm.
Lucas Gourna-Douath - N/A: Came on too late to make an impact.

Manager

T. Letsch - 6.0: His game plan was nearly perfect. His team was organized and frustrated Porto for 92 minutes. Ultimately, his substitutions failed to provide the spark needed to win, and they were undone by a moment of brilliance.

Porto Player Ratings vs RB Salzburg

Here are the Porto player ratings vs RB Salzburg.

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 7.0: He was reliable when called upon, making three important saves. He commanded his box with authority and his distribution was solid. A clean sheet away from home is always a job well done.

Defenders

Jakub Kiwior - 8.5: What a performance. From our perspective, he was the clear man of the match. He was a colossal presence at the back, winning every duel, making four blocks, and completing 93 passes. An absolute masterclass in defending.

Jan Bednarek - 7.5: An excellent partner to Kiwior. His pass completion of 99% was just absurd. He was positionally perfect and made key interventions. Should have scored with a header, but we won't hold that against him.

Zaidu - 6.5: A solid and dependable performance before he had to be withdrawn due to injury. He was tidy on the ball and didn't give anything away down his flank.

Pablo Rosario - 6.0: He looked a little uncomfortable at times. He was industrious but lost possession too often for our liking. An okay performance but not his best day at the office.

Midfielders

Victor Froholdt - 7.0: A really hard-working display. He contributed in both attack and defence, creating two chances while also making important tackles. A player any manager would love to have.

Gabri Veiga - 6.0: He will be kicking himself for that big chance he missed. He got into great positions but lacked the final touch. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted early in the second half.

Alan Varela - 6.5: A proper midfield terrier. He flew into tackles and won the ball back for his team on multiple occasions. He kept things simple and allowed others to play. A very effective, understated performance.

Forwards

Samu Aghehowa - 6.0: He worked tirelessly and was a physical handful, winning plenty of aerial duels. However, his touch and passing let him down repeatedly. All effort, but very little quality on the night.

Pepê - 6.5: Looked very bright during his time on the pitch. He created a great chance and was neat in possession. We were surprised to see him taken off so early, he seemed to be a real threat.

Borja Sainz - 6.5: A truly frustrating player to watch. He was desperately unlucky to hit the woodwork early on, but losing the ball 19 times is just not good enough. A constant menace, but for both teams.

Substitutes

William Gomes - 8.0: The match-winner. Came on and changed the game with a single, spectacular strike from distance. The definition of an impact substitute. An unforgettable contribution.
Martim Fernandes - 6.5: Slotted in well at the back after coming on for the injured Zaidu.
Francisco Moura - 6.0: Didn't see much of the ball but helped his team see out the win.
Rodrigo Mora - 6.5: Added some composure in midfield and nearly created a goal from a set-piece.
Deniz Gül - N/A: On late, but did force a save with a good header.

Manager

F. Farioli - 7.5: His game management was superb. He identified what wasn't working, made the changes, and one of his substitutes won him the game. He set his team up to be defensively solid and it paid off handsomely. A tactical victory.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Jakub Kiwior