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Mixed feelings for Real's caretaker after Greek defeat
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-07 10:38
The Portuguese aristocrats were playing their 100th match in the competition
but looked a bedraggled bunch at the final whistle as their hopes of reaching
the last 16 were sunk on a night more suited to mud wrestling in the Tehelne
Pole stadium.
The few hundred Porto fans huddled together in the cascading rain do not even
have the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup as a draw was sufficient for
Artmedia to retain third place.
In truth, Porto were second best against a side trying to become the first
from Slovakia to reach the knockout phase of the competition.
The hosts produced a second-half onslaught and missed a hatful of chances
that would have given them a famous victory. The fact that Rangers only drew 1-1
in Glasgow with group winners Inter Milan to finish second made it all the more
frustrating.
Artmedia coach Vladimir Weiss said: "I thought we made a great effort
especially in the second half. I thought we should have had a penalty but I
don't want to blame that.
"We were close to our dreams. I'm sad that Rangers went through because I
thought we were better than them."
Porto's Dutch coach Co Adriaanse had no complaints, blaming five dropped home
points against Artmedia and Rangers as the reason for their embarrassing early
exit.
"We lost European football in our home games against Artmedia and Rangers,
that's where we lost the points," he said.
"It was difficult to play football because of the pitch. They were physically
stronger, they wanted to win, they had more opportunities, they were more
dangerous.
"If one team deserved to win tonight it was Artmedia."
NO FEARS
Porto's Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez had the ball in the net for the
visitors midway through the half, but the linesman's flag had already gone up
for offside.
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