Broken jaw forces Derlei out
Thursday, June 5, 2003
Article summary
Treble-chasing FC Porto have lost Derlei for the Portuguese Cup final because of a broken jaw.
Article body
FC Porto forward Derlei will miss the Portuguese Cup final against his former club UD Leiria with a broken jaw - dealing a blow to the Portuguese champions' 'treble' hopes.
Training injury
Derlei, the leading scorer in this season's UEFA Cup with 12 goals, including two in the final against Celtic FC, sustained the injury during training in the Algarve following a collision with Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas. The Brazilian, who joined Porto from Leiria last summer, following in the footsteps of coach José Mourinho, was taken to a Faro hospital, and has now been transferred to Porto, where he is to undergo surgery.
Treble bid
The training session was on the first day of a camp convened to help prepare for the 15 June meeting with Leiria at Lisbon's Estádio Nacional following two weeks of celebrations after winning the Portuguese championship and UEFA Cup, Derlei scoring the silver goal winner in Seville against Celtic.
Search for 12th victory
Porto, chasing their 12th cup victory, face a Leiria side in their first final. Leria ended the season in fifth, 37 points adrift of the champions.
