Football: Stoichkov sinks Porto

Barcelona 3

Porto 0

TWO first-half goals from the Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov and a late strike from Ronald Koeman put Barcelona into the European Cup final last night.

The Spanish champions went ahead after only nine minutes. The move was begun by Romario, continued down the left by Sergi Barjuan and his lofted pass was met with a left-foot shot by Stoichkov to put the home side ahead.

Stoichkov made it 2-0 in the 35th minute after a build-up remarkably similar to the first. The same players were involved and again Stoichkov finished with a left-footed drive.

Porto, who are coached by the former England manager Bobby Robson, rarely threatened, and had their captain Joao Pinto was sent off for a second bookable offence after 61 minutes. Koeman then thrashed home a drive from 40 yards to round off the scoring.

Barcelona (4-4-2): Zubizarreta; Ferrer, Koeman, Nadal, Sergi (Goicochea, 73); Guardiola, Amor, Bakero, Beguiristain (Ivan, 40); Romario, Stoichkov.

Porto (4-4-2): Baia; Pinto, Aloisio, Fernando Couto, Jorge Costa; Secretario, Andre (Paulinho, 80), Fohla (Semedo, 65), Filipe; Drulovic, Kostadinov.