FC Porto of Portugal defeated Once Caldas of Colombia 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw to win the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup in Japan on Sunday.
In an amazing penalty shoot-out 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. 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 shoot-out.
The European champions controlled the game for most of regulation time.
South African striker Benni McCarthy, last year’s top scorer in the Portuguese top flight, 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 his effort inched wide.
Porto continued to threaten the Colombians 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 setback when keeper Vitor Baia was stretchered off in the 104th minute to be replaced by Nuno.
But the Europeans seemed to slow down against a defensive Colombian side in the latter half of extra time, looking weary after having played Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The game petered out to a goalless before the drama of the penalty shoot-out.
”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 shoot-out.
”It was really a tough game. But my players showed their determination to win it in the penalty shoot-out,” 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 shoot-out.
”We had several chances in the first half and we couldn’t take them. It made my players lose their confidence, become cautious and passive.
”We couldn’t switch from defence to offence smoothly today,” said Montoya. – Sapa-AFP