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Arsenal loanee’s spell ends with assist & penalty conceded

Fabio Vieira provided an assist and conceded a penalty in his final appearance on loan with FC Porto, with the team crashing out of the Club World Cup at the group stage.

PORTO, PORTUGAL - JANUARY 23: Fabio Vieira of FC Porto looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between FC Porto and Olympiacos FC at Estadio do Dragao on January 23, 2025 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)

Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images

Going into their final Club World Cup group game, Fabio Vieira and FC Porto knew that their chances of progression to the knockout stages were slim at best.

Not only did Porto need to win against Al Ahly, they also needed Inter Miami to beat Palmeiras, and for at least one of those wins to be by two goals or more.

Yet with Inter Miami going 2-0 up against Palmeiras, at one stage there was a genuine possibility that Porto could progress – if they could win their own game.

PORTO, PORTUGAL: Fábio Vieira of FC Porto looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between FC Porto and FC Midtjylland at Estadio do Dragao on December 12, 2024. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Unfortunately, Porto never held a lead in their rollercoaster match against Al Ahly.

Wessam Abou Ali gave the Egyptian side the lead three times in a row, with Porto equalising a few minutes later on each occasion. Vieira conceded the penalty for the second of Abou Ali’s goals, but he made amends by assisting Porto’s third with a corner cross to Samu Aghehowa.

Not long after that, Al Ahly once again took the lead through Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. Though Porto levelled late through Pepe for 4-4, they couldn’t find a winner.

It didn’t matter much anyway, as a late Palmeiras comeback against Inter Miami ensured their match ended 2-2. Even a win for Porto wouldn’t have been enough to avoid elimination in the end.

2025 Club World Cup Group A final standings

2025 Club World Cup Group A final standings

The conclusion of Porto’s tournament also spells the end of Vieira’s loan, with the Arsenal midfielder playing 42 times, scoring five goals, and assisting six.

Porto don’t have a purchase clause in Vieira’s contract, so his situation is now completely open. As it stands, he’ll return to Arsenal following his summer holidays.

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