Tuesday night, Porto advanced to the semifinals of the Taça de Portugal — the country’s premier knockout competition — with a 2-1 victory over second division side Leixões.
Porto’s currently leading the Primeira Liga with a five-point advantage over Benfica, but a strong starting 11 was named for the match, including Mexico internationals Hector Herrera and Tecatito. However, the real focus was on 35-year-old center back Pepe, who was making his first appearance for the club in over a decade after his career had taken him to Real Madrid and then Beşiktaş.
Herrera opened the scoring for Porto in the 11th minute after creating a bit of space for himself with a wonderful touch inside the box.
Golazo de Hector Herrera en la Copa de Portugal. Es muy probable que el mexicano termine en una de las 4 grandes ligas en verano.
pic.twitter.com/kvIO1SgF2D— Ismael González (@ismagonzalezMX) January 15, 2019
But Pepe would also have his shining moment. In the 88th minute, the man who’s been sent off 10 times in his career collected a yellow with this extremely Pepe challenge.
Pepe en su debut con el Porto. #AdnMadridista pic.twitter.com/rSYzwb4XVe
— (@Diablito_Cule_) January 16, 2019
The man’s got his methods.
Pepe is the best. pic.twitter.com/OfhbyeIucc
— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) June 20, 2018