Porto 1 - 0 Braga: Falcao header helps Porto to Europa League final glory

Falcao swooped for his 17th goal of the competition just before half-time, timing his run to perfection to meet compatriot Fredy Guarin's precise cross and brilliantly direct a header past Braga keeper Artur.

Braga, the competition's surprise package, who knocked out former European champions Liverpool and Benfica, should have equalised when Mossoro went clean through seconds after half-time, only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

However, they did not have enough attacking guile to stop Porto boss Andre Villas Boas emulating the club's greatest coach Jose Mourinho by winning this competition and the domestic league in his first season in charge. Porto have also won the Portuguese Super Cup and Villas Boas also became the youngest coach to win a European trophy.

"Without a doubt this is a great feat. We have one trophy left (the Portuguese Cup] for a memorable season," he said. "This has a huge emotional impact for us. Round after round, we kept believing more. Porto becomes an even more special club, even more unique. It adds another trophy, which is important, and builds its future."

Porto cruised to the Portuguese title undefeated and reached this final by knocking out the likes of Spain's Sevilla and Villarreal.

Braga coach Domingos was almost certainly taking charge of his team for the last time with media speculation linking him with a move to Sporting. He said: "I am very proud, I lived unique moments here. These players also did, it's a beautiful story. May Braga continue to grow, we dignified Portuguese football."

Porto had the better of the first half and Brazilian forward Hulk was stopped in his tracks twice at the cost of two yellow cards. Three more yellow cards were later brandished, underlying the rivalry between two teams based just 30 miles apart.

Braga kept searching for an equaliser but lacked any cutting edge in front of goal, a criticism throughout a campaign in which they scored just three goals in four quarter-final and semi-final matches compared to Porto's 18.

Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Otamendi, Pereira, Guarin (Belluschi 73), Fernando, Joao Moutinho, Hulk, Falcao, Varela (James Rodriguez 79). Subs Not Used: Beto, Maicon, Walter, Souza, Ruben Micael.

Braga: Artur Moraes, Miguel Garcia, Paulao, Rodriguez (Kaka 46), Silvio, Custodio, Hugo Viana (Mossoro 46), Vandinho, Alan, Lima (Meyong 66), Paulo Cesar. Subs Not Used: Cristiano, Helder Barbosa, Echiejile, Leandro Salino.