Six years after Marítimos first appearance in the Taça de Portugal final, losing 2-0 to Sporting, the verde-rubros made it again, this time against Porto. After a poor league campaign finishing 11th, a good cup run was essential, knocking out Casa Pia (3-0), Uniăo Leiria (1-0), Farense (1-0), Paços Ferreira (2-1) and league winners Boavista (1-0) on the road to the final. Marítimo lost 2-0 in the final again, but with the knowledge that Porto had qualified for the Champions League meant that Marítimo were given the UEFA Cup spot for the 2001-2002 season.
The fourth UEFA Cup campaign renewed old adversaries when Marítimo were drawn to play Leeds United in the first round, again! Marítimo started the Euro campaign with a qualifying game in Bosnia, against Sarajevo. Marítimo won 2-0 on aggregate to progress to the first round. Leeds United were then ranked as one of the top teams in Europe, enjoying a great run in the Champions League the previous season, reaching the Semi-finals. So it was a bit of a shock when Marítimo won the first home leg 1-0. Brunos 35 yard free-kick gave Marítimo the shock win, on the clubs 92nd Birthday, although in truth the verde-rubros should have scored 3 or 4. The second leg wasnt so good, as Marítimo crashed to a 3-0 defeat in England, having been out-played for much of the game.
The 2001-2002 season will also be remembered for the fantastic performances by left-sided midfielder Daniel Kenedy. The former Porto, Benfica and Paris SG midfielder was a promising young player when playing for Benfica however after a move to France, his career quickly went down hill. Kenedy's career was rescued by manager Nelo Vingada, and after a fantastic first season at the verde-rubros, Kenedy was called up to the Portuguese National team for the 2002 World Cup. But things soon turned sour, when he was kick out for failing a drugs test. Kenedy was banned for 13 months, and upon his return never he made the same impact, and was subsequently released from his contract, signing for Sporting Braga. |
