Deportivo la Coruna 0 Porto 1The Porto manager Jose Mourinho surprised many by selecting Derlei, who suffered cruciate ligament damage in December, ahead of South African international Benni McCarthy last night. But his gamble paid off when the Brazilian scored the all-important goal from the penalty spot which sent his side into the Champions League final.

Matt Scott

at the Riazor Stadium

One of the pre-match scenes witnessed the notoriously highly-strung Porto president losing his temper with the Deportivo officials. He had arrived at the stadium car park only to find there were no spaces earmarked for him or his fellow-Portuguese directors. It seemed just the sort of mind game Mourinho might employ against a club chairman who has reported the manager's prospective paymasters, Chelsea, to FIFA.

The impromptu, Eminem-style sing-off was born of the significance of the match: it being Deportivo's chance of a first Champions League final place, and Porto's of a first since they beat Bayern Munich 2-1 to become European champions in 1987.

Tension dominated the early part of the game and it soon became clear that Mourinho's team had come to La Coruna with the intention of stretching their Iberian neighbours' nerve - and above all closing down Juan Carlos Valerón. Costinha was given the job of policing Valerón, and it was significant that Deportivo's playmaker did not make a meaningful contribution until almost half an hour had passed.

During such climactic games, big-match experience is imperative. Even so, Mourinho's decision to turn to the trusted track record of Derlei in the place of McCarthy was stretching an old football adage. In the hands of Chelsea's eccentric manager, Claudio Ranieri, such a decision might be deemed folly.

Certainly Derlei's early impact was minimal, save for being the victim when Nourredine Naybet scythed through him after 10 minutes. Naybet's stiff challenge seemed odd since the Deportivo captain was one of nine players to start the game just one booking away from missing the final.

The caution was doubly ill-advised since the Spanish side's line-up for a hypothetical Gelsenkirchen final would already be missing Naybet's central defensive partner Jorge Andrade after he was sent off in the first leg.

The tackle also had a secondary impact, serving to encourage Porto's players into the disgraceful play-acting that so infuriated Celtic's supporters and manager in the UEFA Cup final defeat of last season. Here Maniche was the main culprit.

It was he who hit the first two shots of the game, though neither troubled Jose Francisco Molina in the home goal. For all the impressive possession play, Porto have trouble finding the net, as 14 fruitless shots from the goalless first leg infer.

Sadly for Deportivo's fans, their forwards aped the wayward finishing of their opponents when their first-half chances were fewer. Alberto Luque was presented with a free-kick 20 yards out, which deflected to Aldo Duscher.

With Porto's defenders rushing out, Duscher headed behind them for Juan Valerón, one of three Deportivo players unmarked in the box, to beat the helpless Vitor Baia but shot wide.

Porto were more measured and direct in the second half, and in the 47th minute Derlei headed Deco's cross against a post. The Brazilian was beginning to justify his selection. And they took the lead in the 60th minute when Cesar's lunge brought down Deco. Derlei made no mistake from the spot.

Deportivo went on the attack, and when Diego Tristán added his skills the game still refused to turn their turn way. One brilliant block in front of goal from Pedro Emmanuel prevented him from scoring, before the substitute's subsequent free-kick curled half a metre wide. His desperation was summed up by a late booking for diving in the penalty area.

D CORUNA: Molina, Manuel Pablo, Romero, Naybet, Cesar, Sergio (Tristan 67), Duscher, Victor (Scaloni 55), Valeron, Luque (Fran 73), Pandiani. Subs Not Used: Munua, Capdevila, Djalminha, Pablo Amo. Sent Off: Naybet (70). Booked: Naybet, Tristan.

FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Costinha, Maniche, Pedro Mendes (Bosingwa 87), Deco, Derlei (McCarthy 90), Carlos Alberto (Pedro Emanuel 68). Subs Not Used: Nuno, Ricardo Costa, Alenitchev, Jankauskas. Booked: Carlos Alberto, Pedro Mendes. Goals: Derlei 60 pen.

Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).