Celtic 2 Porto 3
(After extra-time)
Celtic's dreams of tasting European glory again came to a sad end in Seville tonight as Porto triumphed in an epic and exhausting UEFA Cup final.
Derlei's strike in the 24th minute of extra-time ended the resistance of 10-man Celtic, who put up a glorious struggle against their Portuguese opponents, for whom Nuno Valente was dismissed in the final minute.
Porto twice went in front, through Derlei and Dmitri Alenichev, but twice Henrik Larsson headed the Glasgow side level to take the match into extra-time.
Bobo Balde's dismissal made matters difficult for Martin O'Neill's tired side in the extra period, and though the 10 men put in a magnificent effort, they finally had to accept defeat.
At half-time, with Porto having looked so dominant and Celtic so toothless, the Hoops fans must have wondered why so many had make the journey to Spain. By the final whistle, after a thriller of a second half and despite the result, there can have been no regrets.
Of the estimated 80,000 Celtic fans that traveled, only 35,000 made it into the Estadio Olimpico for the match. Even so, they still outnumbered the blue-and-white clad Porto supporters by two to one. Whatever the result, this was always going to a memorable night for Celtic.
Celtic players looked tense from the start while Porto appeared assured. With Deco looking lively, Joos Valgaeren had his hands full, and it was the Belgian's foul the Porto playmaker which created the first opportunity of the game.
Deco's free-kick was blocked by Neil Lennon, but the rebound was struck first-time and low by Maniche, bringing a good save out of Rab Douglas. Deco, turning theatrical tumbles into an art form, won another couple of free-kicks, striking the wall himself first then making way for Valente to shoot straight at Rob Douglas.
Celtic were less creative but that changed when Larsson opened up Porto down the right and Didier Agathe bent over a wicked cross which only just missed Chris Sutton's head.
But on the stroke of half-time, Celtic's conceded. Alenichev was allowed far too much space on the left to pick up Deco's cross, and although Douglas once again pulled off a superb stop, he could do nothing to stop Derlei ramming home the loose ball from close range.
Ill-feeling between the teams broke out at half-time as Agathe's frustration boiled over, but O'Neill will have been more concerned with changing a system which had allowed Porto to pull apart Celtic's defense.
Within two minutes of the re-start Larsson had levelled matters. Agathe outpaced Valente and crossed to the far-post for the Swedish striker to leap above Ricardo Costa and direct a header over Baia, the ball dropping in off the upright.
The goal sent Celtic fans delirious but Porto quickly put changed the tune. Deco was the architect, a swift turn earning him space before a delicious pass inside the defender allowed Alenichev to drive the ball low past Douglas.
A couple of minutes later and Larsson did it again. Thompson swung over a corner and the Swede, completely unmarked, powered in a header from six yards out to make it 2-2.
Into extra-time and the prospect of a `silver goal' - but Celtic looked on their last legs. The fatigue showed when Balde's tired, but crude lunge on Derlei earned him a second caution and so a red card.
Sutton found some strength and shot over from 25 yards before O'Neill sent on 20-year-old Shaun Maloney to add fresh legs in attack, and he immediately caused problems for the Porto back-line.
But the exhaustion took its final toll. Douglas spilled Marco Ferreira's shot, Derlei kept his cool, moved inside one challenge and hammered the ball into the net to end those Celtic dreams.
PA