Deportivo La Coruna coach Javier Irureta attributed his side’s 1-0 defeat by Porto in their Champions League semi-final, to a momentary lapse in concentration.
“It was a very evenly balanced game,” Irureta said afterwards.
“But we dropped our guard at the start of the second half and the course of the game was changed by the penalty incident.
“Conceding our first goal at the Riazor was a big blow and obviously affected both the team and the fans.”
Depor went down 1-0 to Porto – the first goal they have conceded at home in the competition this season – and their hopes were extinguished when Moroccan central defender Noureddine Naybet was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Irureta said Naybet’s sending-off and the absence of the suspended duo Mauro Silva and Jorge Andrade were crucial.
“We missed Andrade and Mauro Silva and then we were hit by the red card to Naybet,” he said.
“From my point of view we were treated unfairly by the referees in both games. “But I don’t want to take anything away from Porto as they are a very well organised side and I think they are capable of winning the title.
“They pressurise well up front and having won the Portuguese league they will have plenty of time to prepare for the final.”
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