Porto revive fortunes with Europa title

The goal was the lone moment of brilliance in a game that featured little of entertainment value as the heavily favored Porto effectively neutralised Bragas efforts to fight back

FC Porto revived its status as a European power by beating Braga 1-0 in an all-Portuguese Europa League final to crown a near-perfect season with the clubs biggest title in seven years.

Radamel Falcao provided the winner in the 44th minute,meeting a perfect cross from the right by Fred Guarin to head into the top left corner of the net after a largely tentative first half. Its so many emotions,its hard to explain, Falcao said. Its almost like a dream come true. This team is really proud of itself,weve worked really hard.

The goal was the lone moment of brilliance in a game that featured little of entertainment value as the heavily favored Porto effectively neutralised Bragas efforts to fight back. Substitute Mossoro nearly responded just a minute after the break but had his low shot saved by Helton when free with the goalkeeper,wasting what proved to be Bragas best chance for an equaliser. It was Portuguese champion Portos first European title since winning the 2004 Champions League under Jose Mourinho and came after an undefeated domestic league season.

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With the victory,Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas became the youngest coach to win a European title at 33,and in his first season in charge of the club. Porto still has a chance to win the Portuguese Cup as well,and the comparisons between Villas-Boas and Mourinho his former mentor are only likely to grow. You can dream about goals,and we dreamed the most about winning this tournament, Villas-Boas said. I believe we always felt obliged to win the Europa League. We sort of felt we owed it to ourselves… Its a pity it wasnt a good spectacle,but thats a reality in European finals.

Braga was playing its first major European final after ousting another Portuguese power,Benfica,in the semifinals.