Celtic's dream comes to sad end

Celtic 2 FC Porto 3 AET

Celtic’s UEFA Cup final dream came to an end in the Estadio Olimpico after Derlei’s extra-time goal settled a tense match to take the trophy to Portugal.

Henrik Larsson twice pulled Martin O’Neill’s side level in normal time - taking his tally for the club to 201 goals – after Derlei and Dmitri Alenichev had put Porto ahead.

The extra-time dismissal of Bobo Balde left Celtic under more pressure in the heat of Seville which proved too much for them as Derlei pounced late on.

Porto were also down to 10 men when Nuno Valente was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Celtic faced an early onslaught from the Portuguese side and Douglas had to dive down to his left to save Maniche's 35-yard effort in the third minute.

Joos Valgaeren was soon walking a disciplinary tightrope after being booked for a foul on Deco in the eighth minute.

The game was surprisingly open considering what was at stake, but Celtic were finding it difficult to cope with the pace of the Porto frontline.

But Celtic started to settle down with Larsson and Didier Agathe causing plenty of problems themselves.

The Swede won his side a free-kick in the 21st minute after being brought down by Jorge Costa.

Larsson stepped up and unleashed a powerful low drive from just outside the area which Vitor Baia got down well to save.

A minute later and Douglas was also called into action when Deco struck a right-foot shot from 23 yards which the Scotland man comfortably saved.

Sutton was fortunate not to be booked on the half hour after a late challenge on Nuno Valente.

Moments later Agathe was also lucky not to be cautioned after he brought down Dmitri Alenichev in full flight.

Celtic’s defence was far too easily sliced open in the 33rd minute when Derlei found Deco in the box.

His shot was again saved by Douglas from a tight angle to save the blushes of Balde, who was found wanting for pace.

But the men from Glasgow responded well again and Sutton and Larsson both nearly got on the end of inviting Agathe crosses into the box.

European Cup winner Paul Lambert was in the wars in the 38th minute after taking a Deco free-kick full in the face.

More Porto pressure followed and Neil Lennon had to step in to clear the danger after Alenichev’s cross sparked a nervous goalmouth scramble.

But Douglas came to Celtic’s rescue in the 40th minute when Maniche sent Deco away and his shot was superbly deflected behind off his legs.

The goalkeeper could not do anything to prevent Porto from going ahead in the final minute of the half when Derlei fired home after Douglas had parried Maniche’s shot into his path.

Celtic looked visibly stunned by that goal on the stroke of half-time and both sets of players needed to be separated as they headed for the tunnel as tempers flared.

But despite that blow, O’Neill decided not to take any drastic action at the break and sent out the same 11 for the start of the second half.

A streaker delayed the kick-off, but after that moment of madness Celtic went about salvaging their UEFA Cup hopes and possibly their season.

And they made the perfect start to the second half when Larsson scored his 200th goal for the club within a minute.

Agathe got away from Valente and hung an inviting cross to the far post where the Swede outjumped Ricardo Costa to head across goal and in off the upright.

Now it was Porto's turn to feel the pressure as their opponents grew in confidence from the equaliser, Baia becoming the busier of the two goalkeepers.

But they replied in the best possible way by going ahead again in the 54th minute after slicing the Celtic defence wide open.

The Hoops failed to spot the run of Alenichev through the middle, but Deco did and he played him through to slide the ball under the advancing Douglas from eight yards.

However, Celtic took just two minutes to draw level and it was Larsson again who came to his side’s rescue.

The Porto defence stood and watched as the striker jumped to head Alan Thompson’s corner beyond the hand of Baia and into the corner of the net from just six yards out.

The game was flowing from end to end and Paulo Ferreira fired a long-range effort just past the upright before Lennon was shown the yellow card for a foul on Derlei.

Valente was the next man booked for a blatant trip on Agathe before O’Neill was forced to bring Ulrik Laursen on for the injured Valgaeren.

The Glasgow side again seemed to believe that the trophy could be theirs, but the Portuguese side still looked a big threat in attack.

Ferreira should have done better in the 67th minute when he burst into the area, but his right-foot shot was comfortably saved by Douglas.

Porto also made a change in the 70th minute when Pedro Emanuel came in for Costa, who was being given a torrid time by Larsson.

Porto gave Celtic more concern a minute later when Capucho picked out the overlapping Derlei and his shot was gathered by Douglas at the second attempt.

The Hoops wasted a great opportunity to go ahead in the 75th minute when Larsson threaded the ball through to Lambert.

But with Petrov in space he took the wrong decision and tried to pick out Sutton which gave Porto the chance to clear the danger.

O’Neill made another change moments later he opted to bring the fresh legs of Jackie McNamara on for the veteran skipper.

The Porto bench were on to the pitch again in the 79th minute when Balde fouled Deco, but referee Michel Lubos ignored the appeals to take action.

Thompson was also lucky not to be booked in the 83rd minute when he brought Ferreira down with a mistimed lunge.

As expected neither side were prepared to take too many risks but Balde was shown his second yellow card in the 95th minute for a reckless challenge on Derlei.

That necessitated some quick adjustments by O’Neill while Mourinho responded by throwing Marco Ferreira on for Capucho.

Sutton fired over from 25 yards before Stilian Petrov became the next Celtic player to be cautioned as the clock ticked down.

The Englishman then headed Thompson’s free-kick over the bar before O’Neill decided to bring on the fresh legs of Shaun Maloney for Petrov in the 104th minute.

The match moved into another unbearable 15 minutes of extra time, but Maloney’s pace began to trouble the Portuguese side.

He twice made room to cross towards Larsson, but Ricardo Carvalho and Emanuel were on hand to head clear and deny the Swede his hat-trick.

But the Celtic players were sunk with six minutes left when Douglas spilt Ferreira’s shot and Derlei steered the ball past the keeper, Laursen and Mjallby and into the net.

Porto were reduced to 10 men when Valente was dismissed after a second booking.

O’Neill even threw Douglas forward at a corner as Celtic pushed for the equaliser – but the referee’s whistle soon sparked wild celebrations in the Porto camp.