0-3: Porto takes the European Crown home!



In the end it was quite one-sided, but until FC Porto opened the scoring it had been hard to separate the two best teams in Europe this season. At first it seemed the pace and directness of Ludovic Giuly might tip the balance in favour of the underdogs, but an adductor muscle injury to the AS Monaco FC captain after 22 minutes effectively ended their challenge. Fernando Morientes, seeking a fourth UEFA Champions League winners' medal, rarely threatened while Jérôme Rothen played in fits and starts. Once Carlos Alberto had taken his chance with youthful abandon, Monaco's hopes rested largely on Porto becoming careless. Instead Deco and Dmitri Alenichev's breakaway goals underlined Porto's superiority. Monaco in the end could not match the organisation and tactical nous of Porto. Their first goal may have been out of the blue, but they drew Monaco in during the second half, and with deadly timing produced two sucker punches to end the match as a contest. Mourinho, in little over two years, has built a side whose team ethic and tactical intelligence are the match of anyone that has lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup.Congratulations to F.C. Porto!

The Match:
AS Monaco: Roma; Ibarra, Rodriguez, Givet (Squillaci, 72'), Evra; Cisse, Bernardi, Zikos; Giuly (Pršo, 23'), Rothen and Morientes.
FC Porto: Victor Baia; Nuno Valente, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Paulo Ferreira; Maniche, Costinha, Mendez; Deco (Pedro Emmanuel, 85'); Carlos Alberto and Derlei (McCarthy, 78').
Goals:
0-1 (39'): The headed clearance is crossed back in to Carlos Alberto on the penalty spot, and as the ball bounces in the area he swivels to score his first Champions League goal - at 19 the third youngest to score in the final.
0-2 (71'): The lead doubles after a swift counterattack from Porto. Deco picks up the ball in his own half, runs forward 40 metres, plays a one-two with Alenichev in the box and, after a little feint, chips the ball past Roma.
0-3 (75'): Alenichev the subtitute who also scored in last year's UEFA Cup final, makes the most of another break as Derlei's cross deflects into his path. The finish is emphatic.
Referees: Kim Milton Nielsen (DEN), Jørgen Jepsen (DEN), Knud Erik Fisker (DEN) and Jens Larsen (DEN). Cards on Nuno Valente, Carlos Alberto and Jorge Costa. all of them are from FC Porto.
Other Facts: Aufschalke Stadium in Gelsenkrichen, Germany Full.