Impressive Porto made a winning start to their UEFA Europa League Group L campaign tonight with a comfortable defeat of Rapid Vienna.

The Portuguese giants dominated large portions of the contest against their Austrian rivals and were not flattered by the scoreline, provided by goals from Rolando, Falcao and Ruben Micael. Micael had the game's first chance in the 14th minute but his curling right-foot effort from 25 yards was saved by Rapid goalkeeper Raimund Hedl.

Alvaro Pereira tried his luck from 20 yards a minute later - but Hedl's goal was not threatened and the effort went over. Pereira was closer five minutes later but Andreas Dober blocked another right-foot effort from 20 yards from the defender.

It was no surprise when the hosts took the lead through Rolando, who converted Jorge Fucile's cross in the 26th minute. The next Porto player to threaten was Hulk, whose 40th-minute curling right-foot effort was narrowly off target - and two minutes from the break Falcao also shot over from 12 yards.

The visitors' only first-half chance came just before the break through midfielder Stefan Kulovits, whose 12-yard effort went wide. Rapid started the second half more brightly, with Veli Kavlak seeing a left-foot effort go wide in the 50th minute and fellow midfielder Stefan Hoffmann curling a right-foot effort over 12 minutes later.

However, Falcao headed in Hulk's corner in the 66th minute to double Porto's advantage - and normal service was resumed. Cristian Rodriguez threatened in the 71st minute for the home side, then Falcao saw an effort blocked by defender Tanju Kayhan five minutes later.

Porto, who top their domestic league by four points with a 100% record after four matches, rounded off the success 11 minutes from time with the pick of the goals - Rodriguez setting up Micael, who gave Hedl no chance with a fine finish. Micael was given a rousing reception by the 30,014 crowd when he was substituted in the 83rd minute, with Porto finishing as they started with Fernando Belluschi bringing a save out of Hedl with a free-kick.