2003-05-21: Celtic 2-3 Porto, UEFA Cup – Clockwatch

Seville 2003 Homepage | Match | Match Pictures | Fans in Seville Pics | Road to Seville

Celtic Games – UEFA Cup Final 2003

Celtic 2-3 Porto

Clockwatch

Second half of Extra time

2225: Full-time: Celtic 2-3 Porto (after extra-time)
The final whistle goes in Seville. Celtic's valiant attempt to triumph in Europe for the first time in 36 years ends in valiant defeat.

2224: Celtic's free-kick blazes over the crossbar – and Porto feel they have the match.

2222: More lively work from Shaun Maloney wins Celtic another corner. Rab Douglas comes up for the corner, which is partially cleared, but Celtic win a free-kick. Nuno Valente is dismissed after picking up a second yellow card.

2220: Celtic win a free-kick and pump a long ball into the Porto area, winning a corner. But the ball into the box is too long and the chance is gone. Celtic have four minutes of stoppage time to rescue the match.

2218: Victor Baia goes down for a lengthy period after Ulrik Laursen clips his leg. Celtic's players are incensed by what they see an awful piece of gamesmanship by the Porto goalkeeper.
2215: GOAL Celtic 2-3 Porto
Derlei
scores for Porto after Celtic are unable to clear the danger. Rab Douglas fails to hold the ball, which falls to Derlei, who rides a tackle before shooting. Douglas almost saves and Ulrik Laursen on the line almost clears but the ball creeps over.

2212: Shaun Maloney knocks two excellent crosses into the Porto area from the left, but with Henrik Larsson poised to convert each time the Swedish striker is foiled by good defensive headers.

2209: Porto are incensed by an Alan Thompson challenge, but Celtic are able to clear the subsequent free-kick as a dramatic penalty shoot out moves ever closer.

2206: The second-half of extra-time starts. The Uefa Cup final is now just 15 minutes from a penalty shoot out. The Celtic fans remain in fine voice and continue to cheer their team.

First half of extra time

2204: The first-half of extra-time finishes. Porto have enjoyed most of the ball since Celtic were reduced to 10 men.

2201: Young striker Maloney comes on for Stilian Petrov.

2158: Chris Sutton turns sharply and unleashes a powerfully shot that flies narrowly over the Porto crossbar, but it is an increasingly rare attack from Celtic.

2157: With Celtic reduced to 10 players, Porto are enjoying most of the attacking play, with Martin O'Neill's team defending stoutly.

2152: Bobo Balde is dismissed after collecting a second yellow card for a late challenge on Derlei. The Celtic defender walks off disconsolate.

2150: Porto win the first corner of extra-time, but Johan Mjallby is fouled, much to the relief of the Celtic supporters.

2148: Celtic get the first-half of extra-time underway. The silver goal rule applies, so any team that scores will have to hold on until the end of the half of extra-time they are playing before victory is theirs.

End of Normal time

2142: Both teams create half chances in the final few minutes, but eventually referee Lubos Michel blows his whistle, signalling the end of normal time.

2142: A terrible misplaced pass gifts a chance to Dimitri Alenitchev, who shoots over from the edge of the area with the last kick of normal time.

2138: The fourth official signals that there will be four minutes of injury time.

2135: The final whistle approaches with Porto enjoying the better of the last few minutes of normal time.

2131: Alenitchev volleys wide from 25 yards after receiving a pass direct from a corner. The flow of the game is being increasingly disrupted by several Porto players going to ground too easily and appealing for yellow cards.

2123: Paul Lambert breaks down the right and cuts into the Porto area, but fails to spot Stilian Petrov in space on the edge of the box. Lambert opts instead to cross and the danger is cleared. The Celtic skipper is substituted moments later, replaced by Jackie McNamara.

2122: Deco almost dances his way through the Celtic defence but is foiled by Alan Thompson.

2120: An optimistic strike from Derlei catches Rab Douglas unawares, who needs two attempts to collect the ball.

2117: Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, buoyed by his two goals, is full of running and the Porto defence is just holding firm, making a series of last-ditch challenges.

2112: Celtic defender Joos Valgaeren, booked and sporting a black eye after a bruising match, is replaced by Ulrik Laursen. 2106: Paulo Ferreira shoots narrowly wide of the Celtic goal with a quality strike from long range.

2104: GOAL Celtic 2-2 Porto
Henrik Larsson
brilliantly heads Celtic level for a second time, converting Alan Thompson's corner. Porto will be disappointed with the quality of their marking.

2101: GOAL: Celtic 1-2 Porto
Dimitri Alenitchev
restores Porto's lead, latching on to a truly exquisite through ball from the superb Deco before slipping the ball past the advancing Rab Douglas.

2055: GOAL: Celtic 1-1 Porto
Henrik Larsson equalises for Celtic. He soars above Ricardo Costa at the far post to meet Didier Agathe's cross, converting from a tight angle and sparking an eruption of joy among the Celtic supporters. It is the Swede's 200th goal for the club.

2052: The second-half is about to start when a streaker dressed as a referee suddenly strips off and runs across the pitch before being escorted off. The half eventually begins and Celtic's fans continue to sing at an incredible volume, urging their heroes forward at every opportunity.

Half-time

2032: GOAL: Celtic 0-1 Porto
Derlei opens the scoring for Porto after Douglas parries Alenitchev's shot. Bobo Balde almost reached the ball before Derlei, but the Porto forward reacted slightly faster to convert from a tight angle five yards from goal. Moments later the half-time whistle goes with Porto taking a crucial advantage into the break.

2030: Celtic create a succession of half chances but fail to display the quality final ball necessary to really open up the opposition.

2027: Deco causes more problems for the Celtic defence breaking down the right, but Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas makes a good save to thwart the tricky Porto forward.

2024: Porto win back-to-back corners, the second of which causes chaos in the Celtic penalty area but Chris Sutton eventually clears the danger.

2019: Celtic get behind the Porto defence for the first time in the match but Didier Agathe's cross is too heavy and flies over Chris Sutton's head.

2018: The temperature inside the Estadio Olimpico remains in the 90s. Celtic's players are drinking liquid at every opportunity. 2011: Celtic continue to be roared on by their vociferous support, but Porto keep playing technically neat, incisive football that has their Scottish opponents working hard in defence. Deco in particular appears accomplished on the ball.
2007: Celtic win a free-kick in a dangerous position. They have had few real opportunities so far in the game and Henrik Larsson almost converts with a curling free-kick, only for Victor Baia to make a tidy save.

1956: Celtic start to enjoy more of the ball and Didier Agathe knocks a teasing pass behind the Porto defence only for Baia to superbly collect.

1952: Porto midfielder Francisco Costinha, who only played after passing a late fitness test, leaves the field on a stretcher. He is unable to continue and replaced by Ricardo Costa.

1948: Douglas makes the first save of the game to deny Paulo Ferreira from the edge of the area. The match has started at a fast pace, with Porto enjoying lots of early possession.

1945 BST: The match begins on a sweltering Spanish evening. The start of the match is greeted by a huge roar from the 35,000 Celtic fans inside the Estadio Olimpico.

Pre-match

Team news:
As expected Celtic boss Martin O'Neill names Chris Sutton in his team for the injured John Hartson. Henrik Larsson partners Sutton up front, while Paul Lambert captains the Scottish champions Inspirational Porto midfielder Francisco Costinha passes a late fitness test and takes his place in the Portuguese team's starting line-up.

Articles

BBC Link to Clockwatch