The Cup. How good was FC Porto and how limited yet… Reaching the Portuguese Cup final was effectively stretching the season tremendously – championship, European cup, domestic cup. Legendary squads were not able to win it all and FC Porto had no legendary squad. But their opponent was Rio Ave… and as ambitious as mid-table team could be, it was rather impossible for such a team to win in a country like Portugal, where the real difference between a leading and a mid-table club was like day and night. It was not that Rio Ave did not try and it a sorry day for people like me, always preferring the underdog. FC Porto was clearly too strong. They won 4-1. .
This is the Rio Ave’s team at the Cup final. No names here… and no matter: no famous players. What is there to say… money. Lack of them. A great effort, a day to be remembered, but no trophy.
FC Porto won one of three trophies they battled for. Not bad by any account. The team was getting better and stronger. It was not at its peak yet – as a finished, successful, team – and as a club, FC Porto was not ready yet for doubles and triples, but very likely this was the year FC Porto completely converted from good club into leading club both at domestic and international level. Too bad people did not pay enough attention outside Portugal: this club was rapidly ascending. And not going to be one-time-wonder at all. Oh, well, it is easy to say that now, when 1984 is deep past.
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