What Is 2004 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

Overview

The 2004 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira was the 26th edition of Portugal’s annual football super cup, traditionally contested between the winners of the previous season’s Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal. This particular match featured FC Porto and Benfica, two of the country’s most storied clubs, facing off for domestic supremacy.

Played at the neutral Estádio do Algarve in Faro, the match served as the official curtain-raiser for the 2004–05 Portuguese football season. FC Porto emerged victorious with a decisive 2–0 win, securing their seventh Supertaça title in club history.

• FC Porto qualified by winning the 2003–04 Primeira Liga with 77 points, finishing seven points ahead of second-place Benfica.
• Benfica earned their place by defeating Porto 2–1 in the 2004 Taça de Portugal final, ending a ten-year trophy drought.
• The match was held on August 14, 2004, marking the first competitive fixture of the new football season in Portugal.
• Estádio do Algarve in Faro hosted the game, a neutral venue selected to promote football across southern Portugal.
• FC Porto’s goals were scored by Derlei in the 30th minute and Zé Luís in the 67th minute, sealing the victory.

Match Details and Structure

The Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira follows a straightforward single-match format, with extra time and penalties if necessary. In 2004, the game concluded within regulation time, making additional periods unnecessary.

• Format: The competition is a one-off match between the league champions and cup winners from the prior season. If one team wins both, the runner-up in the cup qualifies.
• Duration: The match lasted 90 minutes with two 45-minute halves and standard stoppage time added by the referee.
• Referee: Jorge Sousa, a prominent Portuguese official, oversaw the match with strict but fair control.
• Attendance: Approximately 18,500 fans attended the game, reflecting strong interest in the Lisbon–Porto rivalry.
• Substitutions: Each team made up to three substitutions, with FC Porto bringing on Deco and Ricardo Costa during key moments.
• Discipline: The referee issued four yellow cards—two to each team—with no red cards shown.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the two teams compared heading into the 2004 Supertaça:

The table highlights FC Porto’s dominance in league performance versus Benfica’s cup success. Despite Benfica’s emotional cup win, Porto entered the Supertaça with greater momentum and tactical cohesion under manager Co Adriaanse, who had recently taken over from José Mourinho.

Why It Matters

The 2004 Supertaça was more than just a preseason trophy—it symbolized the shifting balance of power in Portuguese football and set the tone for the upcoming season. Porto’s victory reinforced their status as the country’s premier club at the time, coming off a UEFA Champions League triumph just months earlier.

• Historical context: This win extended FC Porto’s legacy, marking their seventh Supertaça title since the competition began in 1979.
• Morale boost: The victory gave Porto confidence heading into the 2004–05 season, which they would go on to dominate domestically.
• Benfica’s challenge: Despite the loss, Benfica’s presence signaled their resurgence after years of underperformance.
• Player impact: Deco’s influence, even in a limited role, underscored his importance before his move to Barcelona later that year.
• Neutral venue: The use of Estádio do Algarve emphasized efforts to nationalize the event beyond Porto and Lisbon.
• Media coverage: The match was broadcast nationally, drawing one of the highest preseason viewership numbers in Portuguese sports history.

In conclusion, the 2004 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira was a pivotal moment that showcased FC Porto’s continued excellence and set the stage for another competitive season in Portuguese football.