Sporting CP beat SL Benfica 1-3 in extra time at Jamor

Sporting Clube de Portugal won the Taça de Portugal for the first time in six years at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor, defeating SL Benfica 1-3 after extra time in the final. It rounded off the first league and cup double for the team since 2001/02.

The goals came in stoppage time, with a penalty from Viktor Gyökeres, then in extra time by Conrad Harder (99’) and Francisco Trincão (120+1’).

In the final game of the season, at a packed Estádio Nacional split by the colours of two eternal rivals from Lisbon – something that had not been seen in the final since 1995/96-, Sporting CP presented a starting eleven with two changes: Jeremiah St. Juste took over the central role in the central defensive trio – in place of the injured Ousmane Diomande – and captain Morten Hjulmand returned from suspension to replace Hidemasa Morita.

SL Benfica had the first shot of the game, through Orkun Kökçü from outside the area, met with a safe save by Rui Silva. Sporting CP responded quickly and only two well-timed tackles inside the area prevented Geny Catamo and, subsequently, Gonçalo Inácio, from scoring.

After the first ten minutes, referee Luís Godinho  awarded a penalty in favor of SL Benfica, but the decision was reversed due to an offside at the beginning of the play.
 
Sporting CP goalkeeper Rui Silva tipped a clear chance by Vangelis Pavlidis onto the post, and later, Inácio also made a decisive tackle to block a Bruma shot. From the subsequent  corner, the Greek striker headed the ball slightly over the bar.

Having overcome these moments of difficulty, both defensively and in finding ways to attack, Sporting CP showed a timid reaction to close the first half. Pedro Gonçalves headed the ball into the hands of Samuel Soares, SL Benfica’s starting goalkeeper, who then also saved a low shot from Viktor Gyökeres.

The game went into halftime with the score still 0-0.

The start of the second half turned into a nightmare for the Sporting CP. With Geny Catamo down on the ground, SL Benfica continued their attack, and a powerful, well-placed shot from Kökçü put his team ahead in the 48th minute.

Two minutes later, Bruma seemed to have made it 2-0, this time with Trincão down injured from the start of the play. However, this time, the referee checked VAR and considered that Álvaro Carreras had committed a foul. Thus, the second goal was disallowed.

The thousands of Sporting CP fans in the stands were galvanised, as were the players, who once again imposed themselves in duels, had more control of the ball and got into SL Benfica's area more frequently. Maxi Araújo, Gyökeres and Trincão had the main attacks during this spell.
 
Morita replaced Debast in the midfield in the first change by Sporting CP.

Entering the last 15 minutes, Rui Borges introduced Geovany Quenda and Conrad Harder for Catamo and Gonçalves, then Matheus Reis and Iván Fresneda were also added to the mix.

In the final stretch of regulation time, a good save by Rui Silva from debutant Andrea Belotti kept Sporting CP alive.

Attempts from Trincão's right foot and Harder's head were both weak, but still the team pushed for an equaliser.

Added time reached 90+10 minutes, and it was in the last gasp of injury time that a move between Trincão and Gyökeres turned the game on its head. After leaving a defender in his wake, the Swedish striker was brought down in the area by Renato Sanches and a penalty was awarded.

Gyökeres himself stepped up, and scored his final game of the season from the penalty spot, forcing extra time.

As the game broke down and exhaustion was beginning to show, Sporting CP went in search of more. Samuel Soares got down at the feet of Gyökeres to deny a certain goal.

Then, in the 99th inute, Harder rose highest in the area to meet an excellent cross from Trincão, and his lethal header made it 2-1.

SL Benfica tried to reverse the course of a final they had previously had in hand. David Moreira, making his debut for Sporting CP, replaced a very tired Maxi Araújo, whilst SL Benfica's veteran Ángel Di María – who came on in extra time – tried his luck from a distance with a shot over the bar.

Trincão killed the game off with a magical move, which featured a nutmeg and a classy finish to make it 3-1 at 120'+1'.
 
The joy following the goal only increased upon the final whistle, as Sporting CP celebrated the seventh double in the club’s history.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Geny Catamo (Geovany Quenda, 75’), Eduardo Quaresma (Iván Fresneda, 83’), Jeremiah St. Juste (Matheus Reis, 83’), Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], Zeno Debast (Hidemasa Morita, 58’), Francisco Trincao, Pedro Gonçalves (Conrad Harder, 75’), Viktor Gyökeres.