Taremi on target in Dragao farewell
Mahdi Taremi came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner against Boavista in his final home outing for Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
The Iranian striker is set to be unveiled as a new signing for Serie A champion Inter once his Porto contract runs out at the end of the season.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Iranian striker, introduced on the hour mark, was first to a Chico Conceicao’s cross on the far post to head home in the eighth minute of the stoppage time.
Bruno Lourenco gave Boavista a 60th-minute lead against the run of play but the visitors went down to 10 men four minutes later, courtesy of Pedro Malheiro’s second booking for a reckless challenge on Taremi.
Portuguese center-back Ze Pedro drew Porto level nine minutes from normal time before Taremi’s header secured a vital three points for Sergio Conceicao’s side in the race for a third-spot finish in the Portuguese top flight and a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Porto is one point clear of Braga in the table but will still have to avoid a defeat when visiting the fourth-place side in the final round of league fixtures next Sunday.
“This is an emotional moment for me right now as it was my final Porto appearance in this stadium. I’m so thrilled to have found the net on this occasion and help the team win the game,” said Taremi, who was reduced to tears at the final whistle while being surrounded by teammates and Porto officials on the pitch.
This was a 10th goal in 33 matches across all competitions for the 31-year-old Iranian this term, who missed several games due to international duty in January’s Asian Cup before he fell down the pecking order at the club in the aftermath of his reported agreement with the Italian Nerazzurri in the mid-season.
“I’ve always had the utmost respect for Porto supporters but decided to join a new club at this stage of my career. I will remain a Porto fan for the rest of my life,” added the Dragons’ third all-time top scorer behind retired Brazilian Mario Jardel and Jackson Martinez.
Having joined from Rio Ave in July 2020, Taremi has bagged 90 goals – including 22 strikes which saw him finish as the leading marksman in the league last campaign – and 55 assists in 180 appearances for Porto, inspiring the club to a domestic double in the 2022/23 campaign as well as last year’s Taca de Portugal trophy.
“I am a striker and it is my job to score goals and provide my teammates with assists. It was an honor to deliver my best for this club,” said a modest Taremi.