LONDON, 9 December 2004 — Holders Porto produced a thrilling fightback to beat Chelsea 2-1 and grab a Champions League lifeline as Arsenal and Werder Bremen booked their places in the next round on Tuesday.
On a tension-filled night in Europe’s premier club competition, Bremen beat Valencia 2-0 in a bad-tempered game at the Mestella and Arsenal thrashed Rosenborg Trondheim 5-1.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, who left Porto after winning the UEFA Cup and Champions League in successive seasons to join the Premier League club, sat impassive as Ireland winger Damien Duff fired the Londoners ahead after 34 minutes.
Teenage Brazilian Diego leveled for Porto after 61 minutes with a superb volley but with CSKA Moscow leading 3-1 at Paris St. Germain, Porto knew only a victory would save them.
South African McCarthy raised the roof four minutes from time, thumping a header past Petr Cech to inflict a first defeat on Chelsea, who had already qualified as Group H winners.
PSV Eindhoven, who had already qualified, finished second after being hammered 4-1 at Panathinaikos, the Greek side earning the consolation of a UEFA Cup place.
Inter fielded a largely second-string side against Anderlecht but two goals from striker Obafemi Martins sealed top spot as the Belgians ended a miserable campaign without a point.
In Group F Shakhtar Donetsk claimed a UEFA Cup place with a 2-0 victory over a depleted Barcelona side, Nigerian forward Julius Aghahowa scoring both goals in the first half to see off the Spanish league leaders.
Barcelona finished second in the group, behind AC Milan who drew 0-0 at Celtic, a result that ended the Scottish club’s participation in European competition this season.
