Football United

SL Benfica marked their centenary year by coming from behind to secure the Portguese Cup and deny arch-rivals FC Porto a second successive domestic double with a 2-1 victory in extra time at Lisbon's Estádio Nacional.

José Mourinho had secured the cup, Portuguese League and UEFA Cup in his first season as Porto coach a year ago and having already clinched the SuperLiga was hoping to add the second part of a treble he intended to complete in ten days' time at the UEFA Champions League final against AS Monaco FC - whose coach Didier Deschamps was in the stands.

He employed Derlei and Benny McCarthy up front in an attacking formation, while Benfica coach José Antonio Camacho started with Nuno Gomes and Tomislav Šokota in attack as the club sought a first major trophy in eight years. The match was preceded by a minute's silence for Benfica and Portuguese international youth player Bruno Baião, who died yesterday.

The two sides were meeting in their ninth cup final, with Benfica having won seven of the previous eight, and 23 cups to Porto's 12. Porto had beaten Benfica to the league by an eight-point margin, but the capital side began well, Nuno Gomes hitting the post. However, Deco found the woodwork for Porto in the 28th-minute and they took the lead just before half-time as Derlei pounced after Benfica goalkeeper José Moreira parried a Deco free-kick.

The lead could have doubled on 57 minutes when Derlei shot on goal only to hit the post and within seconds Benfica were level as Panagiotis Fyssas beat Porto goalkeeper Nuno at the second attempt after good work with Nuno Gomes.

Porto were down to ten men 20 minutes from the end when Jorge Costa picked up his second yellow card after fouling Nuno Gomes. Benfica finally made their one-man advantage count in the 14th minute of extra time as Simão Sabrosa rushed into the box and headed in.

There was no way back for Porto, and Benfica's long run without a trophy was over. Porto, though, have another final to look forward to in Germany.



BENFICA - Moreira, Armando (Fernando Aguiar, 55), Ricardo Rocha, Luisão, Fyssas, Petit, Tiago (Zahovic, 79), Miguel, Simão, Nuno Gomes e Sokota (Geovanni, 55).

FC PORTO - Nuno, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Nuno Valente, Costinha (Carlos Alberto, 105), Pedro Mendes (Pedro Emanuel, 72), Maniche, Deco, Derlei e McCarthy (Maciel, 68).

Goals: Derlei 45´(0-1); Fyssas 59´ (1-1); Simão 104´(1-2)

Source: Uefa.com; Slbenfica.pt