FC Porto beat Benfica 3-1 thanks to goals from Brahimi (penalty), Marega and Fernando Andrade with Rafa scoring the Eagles goal.
Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira launched a ferocious tirade against referee Fábio Veríssimo, saying “this man should never officiate again.”

Coincidence or not, the very next day Veríssimo requested leave from refereeing duties.


In the other semi Sporting squeezed through against SC Braga in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Worryingly a paltry crowed of just 10,000 spectators turned up for a supposed showpiece occasion in the football calendar at the home of one of the competing teams!


The final between holders Sporting and FC Porto was marked by two injuries early in the second-half as André Pinto clashed heads with Moussa Marega that lead to a broken nose for the Sporting defender.


Pinto tried to continue but had to be replaced by Radosav Petrovic, the Serbian midfielder.


Sporting keeper Renan Ribeiro then went from zero to hero as they edged out FC Porto. Héctor Herrera did well to find space and shoot at Renan from outside the box.


The Brazilian goalkeeper, who had been the hero in the shootout against Braga, fumbled the ball which led to it bouncing gratefully for Fernando Andrade to put Porto ahead after seventy-nine minutes.


Sporting levelled the final deep into stoppage time as a Bas Dost spot-kick, assisted by a VAR replay, took the game to a penalty shootout.


Renan’s save from Hernani and Felipe’s miss gave the first silverware of the season to Sporting.