Post by Taxigirl on Aug 28, 2004 8:56:01 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
Valencia started the season in style by beating Porto to lift the European Super Cup.
Uefa Cup winners Valencia overcame the UEFA Champions League victors 2-1 in Monaco, with two headers from Ruben Baraja and Marco Di Vaio.
Ricardo Quaresma produced a thunderbolt of a strike to pull a goal back for the Portuguese side, but Valencia hung on for the win.
It was a sweet start for new Valencia boss Claudio Ranieri, who lifts a trophy in his third competitive match in charge.
The Uefa Cup winners are not normally favourites but the Spanish champions looked a real quality outfit, while Victor Fernandez's Porto still have to get over the loss of their manager and a number of high-profile player exits in the summer.
Carlos Alberto had an early shot well saved by Santiago Canizares while Baraja's early sighter went well over the bar.
The Spaniards took the lead on 32 minutes with a thumping header from Spain international midfielder Baraja.
Curro Torres curled a great ball in from the right for Baraja, from fully 15 yards out, to produce a stunning header that flew past Vitor Baia and into the top corner.
Baia had to be alert a minute before half time to deny Baraja a second, as a lively half came to a close.
The second half was also bright, and Carlos Alberto again stung the palms of Canizares, who had to turn his powerful drive round the post for a corner.
However, it was the Spanish champions who struck again after 67 minutes to go 2-0 ahead as former Juventus man Di Vaio got off the mark for his new employers.
Again it was a header, but this time it came from the left flank and a superb cross from Vicente, with the unmarked Di Vaio's header going in off the post.
Baraja came close to sealing the match, as his downward header from a corner bounced up and off the crossbar, with Baia beaten.
Porto got back into the match with a goal from nowhere after 78 minutes, with Quaresma producing a stunning bolt from the blue.
The Portuguese youngster picked up the ball 35 yards out and cut inside before unleashing a fierce shot that Canizares could only palm into the net, despite getting both hands to the ball.
Porto piled forward late on, but Valencia hung on despite a few nervy moments to take the first European trophy of the new season.
Valencia started the season in style by beating Porto to lift the European Super Cup.
Uefa Cup winners Valencia overcame the UEFA Champions League victors 2-1 in Monaco, with two headers from Ruben Baraja and Marco Di Vaio.
Ricardo Quaresma produced a thunderbolt of a strike to pull a goal back for the Portuguese side, but Valencia hung on for the win.
It was a sweet start for new Valencia boss Claudio Ranieri, who lifts a trophy in his third competitive match in charge.
The Uefa Cup winners are not normally favourites but the Spanish champions looked a real quality outfit, while Victor Fernandez's Porto still have to get over the loss of their manager and a number of high-profile player exits in the summer.
Carlos Alberto had an early shot well saved by Santiago Canizares while Baraja's early sighter went well over the bar.
The Spaniards took the lead on 32 minutes with a thumping header from Spain international midfielder Baraja.
Curro Torres curled a great ball in from the right for Baraja, from fully 15 yards out, to produce a stunning header that flew past Vitor Baia and into the top corner.
Baia had to be alert a minute before half time to deny Baraja a second, as a lively half came to a close.
The second half was also bright, and Carlos Alberto again stung the palms of Canizares, who had to turn his powerful drive round the post for a corner.
However, it was the Spanish champions who struck again after 67 minutes to go 2-0 ahead as former Juventus man Di Vaio got off the mark for his new employers.
Again it was a header, but this time it came from the left flank and a superb cross from Vicente, with the unmarked Di Vaio's header going in off the post.
Baraja came close to sealing the match, as his downward header from a corner bounced up and off the crossbar, with Baia beaten.
Porto got back into the match with a goal from nowhere after 78 minutes, with Quaresma producing a stunning bolt from the blue.
The Portuguese youngster picked up the ball 35 yards out and cut inside before unleashing a fierce shot that Canizares could only palm into the net, despite getting both hands to the ball.
Porto piled forward late on, but Valencia hung on despite a few nervy moments to take the first European trophy of the new season.