Barry had already achieved one of their best European outcomes, with home and away victories over FC Shamkir of Azerbaijan in the Champions League first round, and were drawn to face Porto in the Champions League second qualifying round.
The first leg, away at Porto, hadn’t gone as hoped with the international giants winning 8-0, in front of an official crowd of 43,500 people – more than double the number who saw them play Liverpool in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals a few months earlier.
Barry had early chances from Jamie Moralee and Michael Flynn, but Portugal’s top goal scorer the previous season, Pena, scored four goals, with Portugal international Deco scoring a hat-trick and the final goal by Swedish international, Frederik Soderstrom.
The return game was a chance for Barry to regain some credibility but, again, Porto opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Brazilian Raphael Dias turned Kenny Brown inside the box and his low effort to the front post beat Barry ‘keeper, Tim Clarke.
However, Barry hit back after 37 minutes. After an acrobatic effort from Moralee was punched away by Portuguese international goalkeeper, Pedro Espinha, the resulting corner from Luke Staton saw Flynn flick-on at the front post, and Lee Phillips equalise for Barry at the back stick.
Barry then went 2-1 ahead on the night two minutes later when Gary Lloyd’s free-kick into the box was headed across goal by Andrew York, and Flynn directed it past Espinha.
The icing on the cake came in the final moments. A ball into box saw substitute Mattie Davies challenged by Espinha, and a penalty awarded for the foul.
Gary Lloyd then smashed it past the ‘keeper to make it 3-1.
An astonishing night for Barry, with wider implications for world football.
A few months later, Porto replaced their manager, Octavio Machado, with a young man named Jose Mourinho, picked up from Portuguese rivals, Unaio Leiria.
Since winning all of those trophies with Porto, Mourinho’s career is well documented.
But it maybe wouldn’t have happened if Barry hadn’t beaten his future charges 3-1 at Jenner Park that night.
