2005/06 FC Porto 2-3 FC Artmedia Bratislava: report

MFK Petržalka's UEFA Champions League experience was brief but memorable. After coming through qualifying despite a 4-0 defeat by Celtic FC (they won the first leg 5-0), the Slovakian side then known as FC Artmedia Bratislava accomplished their first group win at the second attempt with an extraordinary comeback against FC Porto.

José Mourinho had gone but, 16 months on, Porto still carried the swagger of UEFA Champions League winners. Inspired by the playmaking skills of Diego, they quickly set about the visitors. The Brazilian came close with an early volley, while Artmedia goalkeeper Juraj Čobej only just repelled a long-range try from Lucho: before long both would be on the scoresheet.

The opener came on 32 minutes when Jorginho tricked his marker with a clever flick and forced Čobej into a near-post save. Ricardo Quaresma picked up the loose ball and with his trademark 'travela' (a cross with the outside of his right foot), picked out Lucho for a headed goal. Within seven minutes Co Adriaanse's side were 2-0 up, a quick throw-in releasing Diego who sped off on a 30-metre run before beating Čobej from the edge of the area.

Porto were looking comfortable but a chink in their armour was exposed on the stroke of half-time when Peter Petráš cut inside Ricardo Costa and fired low through Bruno Alves's legs and past Vítor Baía. Artmedia coach Vladimír Weiss seized the moment, introducing striker Juraj Halenár for Peter Burák.

The gamble paid off within nine minutes of the restart in the shape of an extraordinary equaliser. Cramped by markers out on the right, Halenár somehow threaded a 30-metre crossfield pass around a host of backtracking defenders and into the path of Ján Kozák, who finished coolly. The bit between the teeth, the Slovakian champions now came forward in search of an unlikely winner.

It arrived with 16 minutes left when Kozák's free-kick form the left was met by Balázs Borbély, edging in front of Ricardo Costa to side-foot into the net. "We played with our hearts," said Weiss. "After Petráš scored I sent Halenár on and told the players during the break that it's better to lose 5-2 than not try to change something. It worked." It certainly did.