Throwback to when the Dragons were crowned World Club champions for a second time | OneFootball

FC Porto vs Once Caldas, Intercontinental Cup, Yokohama, 2004

Porto had been the only Portuguese club side to ever claim the world crown back in 1987 when they travelled back to Japan for what was to be the last-ever edition of the Intercontinental Cup before it became the fancier Club World Cup version that FIFA had been working on for quite some time.

Their opponents might have not been a prestigious South American side, but Once Caldas had proved, much as Greece had done in June of the same year, that in 2004 having a solid defensive block and heart-battling spirit sometimes was all it took to be a winning side. Add to that, this Porto was far from being the all-dominant force of the previous two seasons under José Mourinho.

On their second manager in charge since July – and there would be a third that season – and with a squad depleted of many of the key elements of that Champions League-winning squad, the Portuguese were wrestling with their demons as much as with any opponent they faced. Under the Yokohama skies, however, they had a rendezvous with destiny, and nobody wanted to miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Champions League-winning team dismembered

Things hadn’t started the way Pinto da Costa would probably have wanted. Mourinho jumping ship was almost inevitable after two and half years at the helm of the side and the sales of the likes of Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira were probably to be expected as well. That Pedro Mendes and Dimitri Alenitchev both jumped off board was more unexpected, but still, with fresh money from Roman Abramovich’s pockets, the club president moved quickly to find suitable replacements, at least on paper.

Only reality is sometimes different to perceptions. Luigi Del Neri, the man brought in to follow the Special One, lasted but a few weeks and Victor Fernández followed suit, he who probably was the first pick of the lot but still dreamt of coaching his national side to glory. Diego Ribas and Luís Fabiano were brought in and signing Brazil’s most promising stars, bar Robinho (who had moved to Real Madrid) and Kaká (picked up by AC Milan), had elevated even further the feeling that Porto wanted to establish themselves among the elite.

Strong attack, suspect defence

Ricardo Quaresma, Sporting’s first great breakthrough talent of the millennium, was also added to the business that took Deco to Barcelona, and alongside the promising Carlos Alberto, the prodigal son returning Helder Postiga and the accomplished duo of Derlei and Benny McCarthy, it could be said that Porto had their best forward line in history. What they lacked was quality in defence. Pedro Emanuel joined forces with Jorge Costa, two hardened veterans, as there was still no available player to match the quality of Ricardo Carvalho as a young Pepe was still perceived as a holding midfielder more than a centre-back. There were also issues with the defensive midfield positions, with José Bosingwa and Raul Meireles signed but still far from their best versions that would come in a few seasons.

A young Ricardo Quaresma was beginning arguably the best spell of his career having joined Porto from Barcelona

It was a rebuilding process shattered by the will of many key players in leaving. The likes of Maniche, Derlei and Costinha all wanted to grab juicy last contracts in the wealthier leagues and eventually, they would all depart to Russia. Their hearts were not in it and that became as big an issue as finding the right balance between so many talented options up front and not so much at the back.

Porto favourites despite issues

Porto were inconsistent, to say the least, during the first months of the season, barely scraping alive from the Champions League group stage – although third place CSKA Moscow would end up winning the UEFA Cup – and despite never being too far from the top side, they would never get their noses in front of the league table. Supporters who had enjoyed a glorious two-year run lived in permanent dismay as they didn’t know what sort of team they would find in each match, with Porto playing both spectacularly well and terribly badly, sometimes with just a few days difference. Still, they were reigning European champions and Once Caldas was not a household name. Many expected them to deliver the club’s second Intercontinental Cup. And that weight of expectation was felt by players and staff alike.

On the contrary, Once Caldas were just enjoying their moment. Nobody believed they could pull it off but then again that was the motto of the season and somehow the Colombians always prevailed. The side coached by Luis Montoya was comfortable being the underdogs. Their manager had never enjoyed a great playing career, but he did guide Colombia’s Under-20 side to international recognition, a squad that included the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya before he signed for the club.

Caldas see off South American giants

In 2004, after qualifying for the Libertadores Cup, having won the league for the first time since 1950, they simply kept on beating opponents with more flair and prestige but less work ethic and fighting spirit.

The likes of São Paulo, Santos or Barcelona of Guayaquil were unable to overcome what they were best at: scoring early and then controlling the match tempo without conceding many chances, and the same happened with the much-fancied Boca Juniors side they played in the final. A goalless draw in Colombia and a 1-1 draw at the Bombonera took the match to penalties and all Argentinean players saw their shots miss the target. Once Caldas only had to score twice to conquer the Libertadores to the dismay of the fanatical Xeneizes. They were hoping to repeat the same trick in Yokohama and there’s no denying that they managed to do just that.

Contrary to what happened in 1987 this time there was no snow or grizzly weather. The cold of winter of a 12 December night was there alright, but that in itself didn’t become an issue for either side. Montoya selected his usual first-eleven with Henao in goal, followed by Rojas, Cambindo, Vanegas and Garcia in the back four, with the midfield comprising Viáfara, Velasquez, Arango and Soto, spearheaded by the only two non-Colombians of the side, Paraguayan Jonathan Fabbro and Mexican striker Antonio de Nigris. There were only three changes from the squad that had played at La Bombonera three months earlier.

The match was played at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, in front of 45,748 fans

Full-strength Dragons

Fernández, on the other hand, had almost a dream eleven to pick. Vítor Baía was in goal with Jorge Costa and Emanuel leading a back four that included youngster Ricardo Costa, adapted to left-back, and the Greek right-back Giorkas Seitaridis, one of the best players of the previous Euros. Maniche, Costinha and Diego played in the middle with McCarthy, Derlei and Fabiano providing firepower up front. On the bench, the Spaniard had the likes of Quaresma, Pepe, Carlos Alberto, Postiga, Bosingwa and César Peixoto to call upon. It was not for lack of individual brilliance that Porto would not come out as victors but on the pitch. Things proved to be much tougher than anticipated though.

Woodwork denies Porto, time and time again

The well-oiled Colombian defence frustrated Porto’s movements time and time again as the Portuguese champions were only able to create real danger through set-pieces. McCarthy scored after a corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside, still in the early stages of the game. Frustration crept in as Caldas proved to be comfortable sitting back and searching for the counter, closing spaces so that Porto weren’t able to use their creativity comfortably. Long-range shots, some unexpected flukes and even the occasional woodwork or crossbar hit, all prevented Porto from earning a deserved lead at the end of the first half with Baía pretty much a silent spectator.

Not much changed in the second half. Porto remained with the upper hand, Once Caldas defended their box. Henao defended absolutely everything that came his way although many of the shots usually went wide as the Dragons started to despair with their lack of luck. Fernández decided to throw on more flair and artistry to disrupt the Colombian defence and in came Carlos Alberto and Ricardo Quaresma, two mavericks with freedom to roam, and off went Derlei and Fabiano. Less manpower in the box, and more players circling it.

Baía injured, Nuno Espírito Santo comes on

The reality was, it didn’t change much. McCarthy hit the crossbar a fourth time to no avail and the game duly went to extra time. Once Caldas started to press a little bit higher, knowing their time had arrived, but still, the Portuguese remained the better side up until the moment Vitor Baía surprisingly went down. After a few minutes of nerves, the goalkeeper was taken off the pitch, after feeling ill, and Nuno Espírito Santo was called up to replace the No99 for the last minutes of the extra time. He was tested a couple of times, but Henao remained the man of the match by saving on the hour another desperate attempt by the Porto forward line.

As with the Libertadores final, Caldas had their way and the trophy would be settled on penalties. Both sides were aware that the Colombians had got what they were looking for as they were known as specialists in the penalty shootout, while Porto were not used to deciding trophies this way. After 120 minutes where they were the only team searching for the win, many supporters believed they would be emotionally drained after such a tough call. And there were doubts about Nuno’s ability to stop the Colombian shots as well as Baía, a renowned expert, would.

Diego scores and is sent off

Caldas won the draw and had the first shot on goal and then Diego tied. He then proceeded to insult the Colombian keeper in such a way that the referee had no option but to send him off. Still, his job was done and Porto’s mental block was shed. The talented Carlos Alberto and Quaresma followed, and they both scored neatly but so did the South Americans so all was tied up to the fourth penalty, with De Nigris scoring but Maniche failed his shot, hitting the crossbar for a fifth time. Once Caldas was a penalty away from clinching the trophy but then Fabbro missed as well and so the first set was done and dusted.

It was live or die from then on and neither McCarthy nor Costinha, Jorge and Ricardo Costa missed but Once Caldas players kept it cool and as both sides moved to the ninth round, it was all on Garciás feet. His shot flew high and as Nuno celebrated, Pedro Emanuel picked up the ball and moved slowly to the spot. He then lifted up his head, looked Henao in the eyes, and proceeded to score the goal that would convert Porto into a two-time Intercontinental Cup winner. A moment for eternity.

Pedro Emanuel showed no nerves as he netted the winning penalty

Muted celebrations

Porto’s celebrations weren’t as wild as one might expect for a side that had just conquered the world. Surely this was the first, and for some, the only win with the club shirt but the core players had got used to it by now and the tense atmosphere around the side due to their league record wasn’t exactly the best to take supporters onto the streets as would have probably happened had Once Caldas won.

Tragically, the Colombians’ manager was shot a few days later after an attempted robbery went wrong and became tetraplegic. He spent a month in intensive care and was later moved to his home where he spent the rest of his days, his career ended on the spot. That night in Yokohoma could have been his most glorious night but tragically it became his last ever as a club manager.

Triumph does not save Fernández

Fernández’s fate wasn’t as dramatic but he didn’t resist the poor form in the league. Not even winning the Intercontinental Cup saved his job. Porto ended the league season with José Couceiro in charge, out of the Champions League in the round of sixteen in a tie against Inter and out of the Cup as well. Players such as Diego and Fabiano were sold by the end of the season and enjoyed more successful spells away from the Dragão while Carlos Alberto never delivered what many had predicted and was soon sold, the same with veterans Maniche, Derlei and Costinha, all moving to Dynamo Moscow.

The following season with Dutch manager Co Adriaanse in charge, Porto would eventually clinch the league with youngsters such as Pepe, Bosingwa and Meireles stepping up their game. Yokohama was the last hurrah of Porto’s greatest football team, the only enjoyable moment for a team that could have been but never was and the first taste of glory for those who would then enjoy a new Tetra over the following years with the Dragon emblazoned on their chests.