--------------- --------------- |  | Last Updated: Wednesday, 21 May, 2003, 21:25 GMT 22:25 UK  |
Uefa Cup final player ratings
| | Marks out of 10 for the Celtic and Porto players during the Uefa Cup final. Celtic Rab Douglas: The keeper had an excellent game on his return from injury and made several vital stops - but had no chance with any of the three Porto goals. Johan Mjallby: Made an uncertain start but returned to the commanding form that won him so many caps for Sweden. Bobo Balde: Improved after a nervous start but was sent off in extra time after receiving a second yellow card following a mis-timed tackle. Joos Valgaeren: Another who began with some butterflies, Valgaeren was booked after seven minutes, his poor clearance led to Porto's opener and he then went off injured. Didier Agathe: Made some penetrating runs down the right and finally found his man with a cross for Larsson's first of the night. Paul Lambert: Was the main creative force in the Celtic midfield and fought hard to add a Uefa Cup winner's medal to the Champions League one he gained with Borussia Dortmund. Neil Lennon: Combined his normal holding role with a marking job but had his work cut out matching the pace of man-of-the-match Deco. Stilian Petrov: Bulgarian midfielder found it difficult to get into the game or make his normal lethal runs into the box. Alan Thompson: The midfielder was forced deeper into defence than he would have liked, although he picked out some excellent passes with his trusty left foot. Chris Sutton: Won his personal battle in the air with Jorge Costa, with the Englishman's little flick-ons just failing to fall to his team-mates. Henrik Larsson: Headed home the first equaliser superbly for his 200th goal for Celtic and followed it up with his second of the night in what was probably his best-ever game for the Scottish champions. SubstitutesUlrik Laursen (replaced Valgaeren): The Danish defender made some vital interceptions. Jackie McNamara (replaced Lambert): The Scotland midfielder found it difficult to adjust to the pace of the game after coming on late and almost gifted Porto a last-minute winner in normal time. Shaun Maloney (replaced Petrov): The young striker was introduced in extra time and the Scotland Under-21 international twice came close to setting up a winner for Celtic.
Porto Vitor Baia: The experienced international goalkeeper looked nervous on crosses but had little chance with Larsson's two goals. Paulo Ferreira: The defender worked hard, but his poor marking was partly at fault for Larsson's second goal. Jorge Costa: The tough defender was bullied by Sutton, was lucky not to be booked for an early foul on Larsson and was substituted midway through the second half. Ricardo Carvalho: Made some vital challenges and looked cool and calm at the heart of the Porto defence. Nuno Valente: The full-back produced some excellent runs down the left but was sent off in extra-time for a second yellow card. Francisco Costinha: The defender was struck down with a pulled muscle after only six minutes. Maniche: The quiet man in the Porto midfield peppered the Celtic goal with some accurate and powerful drives every time he was in range. Dmitri Alenichev: The destroyer to Deco's artisan in the Porto midfield made some dangerous runs into the Celtic box and finished with aplomb for his side's second goal. Deco: Was man-marked by Lennon, but you would never have guessed as the Brazilian-born maestro's breathtaking skills lit up the first-half like a latter-day Maradona. Set up both Porto goals before tiring. Nuno Capucho: Started well, winning headers against the taller Celtic defenders before drifting out of the game. Derlei: Sullied his reputation with some blatant play-acting but was always dangerous up front and showed good positional sense to open the scoring then score the winner. SubstitutesRicardo Costa (replaced Costinha): Became the youngest player in the final as an early substitute but failed to get close enough to Larsson at both Celtic goals. Pedro Emanuel (replaced Costa): Was quiet and efficient coming on in the second half at the heart of the defence. Marco Ferreira (replaced Capucho): Introduced in injury time as Porto attempted to take advantage of their extra man.
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