[豐田盃]Porto beat Once Caldas to win Intercontinental Cup
(AFP) 13 December 2004
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec 12 (AFP) - FC Porto of Portugal defeated
Once Caldas of Colombia 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a
goalless draw to win the last edition of the Intercontinental
Cup here on Sunday.
In an amazing penalty shootout each side scored seven and missed one
before Colombian defender John Edwin Garcia blasted over the bar,
allowing Pedro Emanuel to slot home the winner for the European champions.
It was Porto's second world title, following their triumph over Penarol
of Uruguay 2-1 in 1987 in heavy snow.
"I expected this game to be a tough match like this. But the last
champions are the only champions. I am so proud of that," said Porto
midfielder Maniche,who won the most valuable player's award despite
missing a shot in the penalty shootout.
The European champions controlled the game for most of regulation time.
South African striker Benni McCarthy, last year's Portuguese top league
goal scorer, missed the first big chance when his headed goal from a
free kick in the sixth minute was ruled offside.
Brazilian international striker Luis Fabiano's angled shot hit the bar
in the 17th minute and then his header was saved by Colombian keeper
Juan Carlos Henao one minute later.
The Porto side failed to cash in on another golden chance in the 38th
minute when Brazilian international Diego's free kick from the middle
of the Once Caldas field flashed past Henao's left hand to hit the right
post. Luis Fabiano hit the rebound from close range, only to see it hit
the bar, then McCarthy followed it up with another shot which went
over the bar.
Once Caldas' best chance before the break came in the 44th minute when
Colombian international John Eduis Viafara was set free on the right
side for their first shot on goal, but the effort went narrowly wide.
Porto continued to threaten the Colombian goal in the second half,
but McCarthy had another goal ruled offside in the 60th minute,
while his sizzling shot again hit the bar six minutes later.
Shortly before the end of normal time, Henao showed fine reflexes
to stop yet another McCarthy shot, this time from close-range,
to send the tie into extra time.
Porto suffered a major set back when keeper Vitor Baia,
who was chosen as UEFA's best goalkeeper last season,
was stretchered off in the 104th minute to be replaced by Nuno.
But the European side seemed to slow down against a defensive
Colombian side in the latter half of extra time, looking weary
after having playing Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The game petered out goalless before the drama of the penalty shootout.
"It is a game that justice has done in the end," said Porto coach
Victor Fernandez."We hit the post or bar three or four times and
Henao saved our two goals. We attacked a lot and we had so many
clear scoring chances, while Once tried to draw 0-0 and win it in
a penalty shootout."
"We couldn't score in the 120 minutes. It was really a tough game.
But my players showed their strong will to win it in the penalty
shootout. Justice approved of what we deserve to," added Fernandez.
Once Caldas coach Luis Fernando Montoya said he thought twice that
his side would win, once when the Colombians led 4-3 in the penalty
shootout."We had several chances in the first half and we couldn't
take them. It caused my players to lose their confidence, become
cautious and passive. We couldn't switch from defence to offense
smoothly today," said Montoya.
http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,104700,00.html?articleid=104700
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