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Played
May 18, 2011 2:45 PM EDT
Aviva Stadium — Dublin
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 45391
May 18, 2011 2:45 PM EDT
Aviva Stadium — Dublin
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 45391
44′
Radamel Falcao
Top of the Match
Radamel Falcao
Porto
Porto
Radamel Falcao
Porto
Porto
Flop of the Match
Hugo Viana
Braga
Braga
Marcio Mossoro
Braga
Braga
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Porto 1-0 Braga: Radamel Falcao heads Dragons to Europa League glory
Andre Villas-Boas' men overcame the Archbishops in a thrilling game, decided by the individual brilliance of striker Falcao
By Vasil Kotsev
Porto is the new Europa League champions after the Dragons defeated Braga 1-0 in the final in Dublin. The team led by Andre Villas-Boas, who became the youngest coach ever to win a Uefa club competition after this triumph, lift the trophy eight years after Jose Mourinho guided the Portuguese giants to the Uefa Cup in 2002-2003.
After a nervy opening to the game, Porto took the lead just before halftime through Radamel Falcao. The Dragons managed to fend off the Archbishops in the second half, and deservedly claimed its second ever cup in Europe's second-tier club competition.
Most of the action commenced in the center of the pitch as the two Portuguese sides were fiercely fighting for every inch. Villas-Boas' troops were slowly gaining the upper hand, forcing the Archbishops to defend deep in their own half.
Porto came really to scoring in the seventh minute when Hulk skipped past three players on the right side of the box before sending a shot for the top-left corner which narrowly missed the target.
The game started to become scrappy after the exciting opening, and chances for either team were hard to come by. Still, Porto looked more likely to take the opener and nearly did so near the half-hour mark when Silvestre Varela saw a header from inside the box miss the target.
Custodio sent a warning shot in the 38th minute with a poorly struck volley from outside the box in a rare attack from the Archbishops. Braga would not curse its luck, however, as moments later goalkeeper Artur blasted a clearance right into striker Radamel Falcao, but luckily for Domingos Paciencia's men the ball was deflected out for a goal-kick.
With just one minute until the halftime whistle, the Dragons opened the scoring. The usual suspects were involved as Fredy Guarrin sent in an inch-perfect cross for Falcao in the box, and the Colombian rose above all to sent an unstoppable header into the top-left corner.
Braga got its best chance of the game just one minute into the second half as substitute Marcio Mossoro capitalized on a horrible mistake by Rolando, but failed to draw the game level with just goalkeeper Helton to beat.
Porto started defending deeply, and looked like an unbreakable wall as Paciencia's men were struggling to create clear-cut chances. Paulo Cesar had a shot blocked in the 54th minute as Braga were tightening the grip.
Helton got the Dragons' fans biting it nails near the hour-mark as a bizarre sprint off his line almost got Porto into trouble. Porto nearly doubled its advantage ten minutes later when Alvaro Pereira just could not connect with a Hulk cross deep in Braga's penalty area.
Substitute Meyong Ze had a great chance in the 77th minute, but sent a poor shot from outside the box under no pressure at all, allowing Helton to claim the ball comfortably. Braga was throwing everything forward, but on each and every occasion were superbly shackled by Porto's rock-solid defense.
The Archbishops gave all they had in the remaining minutes of the game, but it was Porto who claimed the cup in the end.
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Andre Villas-Boas could become the youngest coach ever to win a Uefa club competition if Porto are able to defeat Braga on Wednesday. The 33-year-old will likely employ the attacking triumvirate of Varela, Hulk and Falcao.
| Braga (4-4-2) Artur; Garcia, Rodriguez, Paulao, Silvio; Alan, Vandinho, Custodio, Viana; Lima, Meyong |
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Coach Domingos Paciencia has announced he will leave the club after the clash in Dublin. With a win on Wednesday the 42-year-old would become the first manager to beat a team he previously featured for as a player in a Uefa Cup or Europa League final.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
Porto are currently riding a three-game winning streak against Braga, outscoring them 9-3 during that span.
- Andre Villas-Boas' men finished the season undefeated in the Portuguese Liga with 27 wins and three draws.
- The Portuguese rivals are separated by just 47 km, which is a Uefa tournament final record.
- Falcao set a new tournament record with his 16th goal of the campaign, surpassing legendary Bayern Munich striker Jurgen Klinsmann who scored 15 in 1995-96.
- Braga's last victory against Porto came on September 19, 2009.
- Artur and Silvio have played every minute of the Archbishops' Europa League campaign.
- The two sides have never faced each other in European competition before.
- Braga coach Domingos Paciencia was the Portuguese Liga's top scorer with Porto back in the 1995-96 season.
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| May 5, 2011 | Villarreal 3 - Porto 2 | EL |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Porto 5 - Villarreal 1 | EL |
| Apr 14, 2011 | Spartak 2 - Porto 5 | EL |
| Apr 7, 2011 | Porto 5 - Spartak 1 | EL |
| Mar 17, 2011 | Porto 2 - CSKA 1 | EL |
| May 5, 2011 | Braga 1 - Benfica 0 | EL |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Benfica 2 - Braga 1 | EL |
| Apr 14, 2011 | Braga 0 - Dynamo 0 | EL |
| Apr 7, 2011 | Dynamo 1 - Braga 1 | EL |
| Mar 17, 2011 | Liverpool 0 - Braga 0 | EL |
- Expect cards between Porto and Braga in bet of the day
- Inter prepare €13 million offer for Porto's Fernando - report
- Former striker Mickey Walsh believes Porto's Andres Villas-Boas will be No.1 target for Europe's top clubs
- Braga's Domingos Paciencia eager to summon spirt of 1987 to upset odds against Porto in Europa League final
- Expect cards between Porto and Braga in bet of the day
- Braga's Domingos Paciencia eager to summon spirt of 1987 to upset odds against Porto in Europa League final
- From Hulk & Falcao to Ronaldo & Ozil - here are Europe’s best combinations of 2010-11
- Braga are not the only minnows to reach a major final - a selection of other fairytale European finalists
| 1 | Helton | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | Rolando | Defender |
| 21 | Cristian Sapunaru | Defender |
| 30 | Nicolás Otamendi | Defender |
| 5 | Alvaro Pereira | Midfielder |
| 6 | Freddy Guarín | Midfielder |
| 8 | Joao Moutinho | Midfielder |
| 17 | Silvestre Varela | Striker |
| 25 | Fernando | Midfielder |
| 9 | Falcao | Striker |
| 12 | Hulk | Striker |
| 24 | Beto | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Maicon Pereira Roque | Defender |
| 7 | Fernando Belluschi | Midfielder |
| 19 | James Rodríguez | Midfielder |
| 23 | Souza | Midfielder |
| 28 | Ruben | Midfielder |
| 18 | Walter | Striker |
| 1 | Artur | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Alberto Junior Rodríguez | Defender |
| 3 | Paulao | Defender |
| 15 | Miguel Garcia | Defender |
| 28 | Silvio | Defender |
| - | Custodio | Midfielder |
| 45 | Hugo Viana | Midfielder |
| 88 | Vandinho | Midfielder |
| 9 | Rocha Paulo Cesar | Striker |
| 18 | Lima | Striker |
| 30 | Alan | Striker |
| 42 | Cristiano Figueiredo | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Claudiano Bezerra da Silva | Defender |
| 20 | Uwa Elderson Echiejile | Defender |
| 7 | Marcio Mossoro | Goalkeeper |
| 10 | Helder Barbosa | Midfielder |
| 25 | Leandro Salino | Midfielder |
| 19 | Meyong Ze | Striker |
| Falcao | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
The Colombian hitman has been ruthless in front of goal in the 2010-11 Europa League campaign. His 16 goals set a single season tournament record and he will no doubt be hungry for more against Braga. He forms one of the world's deadliest partnerships with Brazilian Hulk upfront.
| Alan | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 30 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
The one-time Porto castaway has played an integral role in Braga's unlikely march to the Europa League final. The veteran winger would love nothing more than to come back to haunt his old side in Dublin on Wedensday.
1
14
21
30
5
6
8
17
25
9
12
1
2
3
15
28
0
45
88
9
18
30Porto have an excellent track record against Braga and should once again put their Portuguese rivals to the sword and make Andre Villas-Boas the youngest ever coach to win a major Uefa club competition.
Now You Predict the Match!
 Porto |  Braga | The Fans' Predictions |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 20% (431) |
| 2 | 0 | 15% (310) |
| 2 | 1 | 12% (251) |
| 3 | 0 | 11% (236) |
| 4 | 1 | 6% (126) |
| 1 | 0 | 6% (123) |
| Total predictions: | 2124 | |
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Falcao Striker Porto |
17 | 2 |
 |
Giuseppe Rossi Striker Villarreal |
11 | 4 |
 |
Hulk Striker Porto |
8 | 1 |
 |
Ricky van Wolfswinkel Striker Utrecht |
7 | 3 |
 |
Edinson Cavani Striker Napoli |
7 | 1 |
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker Schalke |
14 | 3 |
|
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
12 | 1 |
|
Adrián
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
10 | 0 |
|
Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker Bilbao |
7 | 2 |
|
Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo
Striker Metalist Kharki |
7 | 0 |