Celtic 2, Porto 3 (after extra time):A silver goal from Derlei Silva five minutes from the end of extra-time broke Celtic's hearts at the end of a long, hot night in Seville and shattered the Scottish flagbearer's hopes of ending a 36-year wait for a second European trophy.
In ordinary time, two goals from Henrik Larsson in 10 minutes had kept Celtic's hopes burning as twice Martin O'Neill's team hauled themselves back into the contest. But the sending off of centre-back Bobo Balde early in the extra period militated against them, and Derlei's second goal of the night was the coup de grace.
If greater numbers enhance willpower, Celtic would have had the conviction to crush Porto instead of being menaced by them. Their followers occupied at least two-thirds of the 52,000-capacity stadium.
Outnumbered or not, Porto's supporters were able to test that proposition when their team took the lead in first-half stoppage-time. Dmitri Alenichev had far too much space on the left to smash a chip from Deco and, although Rab Douglas parried, Derlei, the leading scorer in this season's UEFA Cup, pounced to knock in his 11th goal of the tournament.
A blow suffered at that stage made Celtic's heads swim all the more because they had been so close to negotiating a critical part of the match. Emotions were unleashed and, as the sides made for the tunnel, there was shoving and confrontation between opposing players and their coaching staff. The goal had made the match tremble.
Until then, just as Martin O'Neill had planned, there were limited aims from Celtic in the opening stage. They had security in mind then and, while they remained on level terms, could not be lured out of the conservatism even by Porto's troubles.
Costinha, a doubt for the final, lasted only eight minutes before being replaced, and a restructuring followed, with Paulo Ferreira being advanced into midfield.
Eighteen months ago, in the Champions League, Celtic suffered a 3-0 hiding in Portugal, with the defence often lashed by Capucho's attacks on the right. Although Capucho is less in favour under Mourinho, Joos Valgaeren must have known in his heart that the forward would re-emerge here. It was the Belgian centre-back who suffered most on that November night in Oporto, yet he was far from alone in needing to prove that mentalities have changed, even if the Celtic faces were familiar.
O'Neill picked the same line-up that had succumbed at the Das Antas stadium. If the manager had to furnish proof of development, he had only to distribute Celtic's record in the UEFA Cup, with its successes over Liverpool and Stuttgart.
It did not take long to surmise that Deco is a creator of the highest calibre. In the middle of the first half he lobbed the ball over Valgaeren and bounded through for a drive that cannoned off Douglas.
Larsson, brave and mobile, strove to take the fight to Porto, but Celtic in the first half could not find provide him with sharp service.
But the Swede can prosper on the most meagre aid. A broken jaw kept him out of both matches with Stuttgart, but he has otherwise scored against every other team Celtic have met in this UEFA Cup run. As Porto discovered, observers were not joking when they remarked that Mourinho's men needed at least two goals to win.
It was worse for them than even that. After 47 minutes, Larsson leapt at the far post and, from a virtually inconceivable angle, headed Didier Agathe's cross back over Vitor Baia and in off the post. The striker, though, was to face further demands.
Celtic's back three were as uneasy against a mobile Porto attack as had been feared and when, after 54 minutes, they once again lost possession, Deco cut across Valgaeren to feed through the ball from which Alenichev restored the lead.
It was intact for three minutes, until Larsson could steer Alan Thompson's header home.
Porto are not readily nullified and O'Neill, in dread that Valgaeren would receive a second caution, brought on Ulrik Laursen in his place. It was proof of a delightful match that the coaches' plans were torn up while the spirit of Celtic and, above all, Larsson put the outcome of the final in such doubt for so long.
CELTIC: Douglas, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren (Laursen 64), Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 76), Petrov (Maloney 104), Thompson, Sutton, Larsson. Subs Not Used: Hedman, Sylla, Fernandez, Smith. Sent Off: Balde (95). Booked: Valgaeren, Lennon, Balde, Petrov. Goals: Larsson 47, 57.
FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Ferreira, Nuno Valente, Jorge Costa (Pedro Emanuel 71), Ricardo Carvalho, Costinha (Ricardo Costa 9), Alenichev, Maniche, Deco, Capucho (Marco Ferreira 98), Derlei. Subs Not Used: Nuno, Cesar Peixoto, Clayton, Tiago. Sent Off: Nuno Valente (120). Booked: Nuno Valente, Derlei, Maniche, Marco Ferreira. Goals: Derlei 45, Alenichev 54, Derlei 115.
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
