16 April 2008

Portuguese Cup semi-final:
Sporting v Benfica

Live match commentary

Welcome to live text commentary as Lisbon giants Sporting and Benfica battle it out at the Jose Alvalade stadium for the right to meet FC Porto in the Portuguese Cup final on 18 May.

Follow all the action minute by minute. Kick-off at 8.30 pm Lisbon time.


This page automatically updates every 90 seconds


Text Commentary: Sporting 5-3 Benfica
  • 95::

    Five goals in 22 second-half minutes gave Sporting a sensational win in a match that will be remembered for years by the fans of the Lisbon club. 

    Benfica dominated the first half and looked to be coasting with a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. The second half was a festival of goals with Sporting playing irrestible attacking football to run out 5-3 winners. 

    On this form the Lions will even fancy their chances against the Portuguese champions on 18 May.

  • 94:: The referee blows the final whistle. Sporting will meet FC Porto in the final at Jamor on 18 May after a breathless encounter at the Alvalade. 
  • 93:: GoaaaalGOAL for Sporting!!! Vukcevic finishes of the match as a contest with a superb volleyed finish from a long swining cross. Superb second-half performance from the Montenegrin.
  • 90:: Four minutes of added time giiven by the referee. Could there be yet more drama in this match.
  • 89:: Intelligent play by Sporting as Moutinho, Izmailov and Veloso play a series of short passes near the touchline to eat away the second to the sounds of 'oles'
  • 87:: Deafening noise in the stadium. Some clever play from Izmailov wins a free kick and buys some time near the corner flag.
  • 85:: Five minutes to go in what has been a remarkable match at the Alvalade tonight. Bento tries to shut up shop by bringing on Gladstone for Djalo. Cardozo was also brought on in the meantime. Don't ask me when. Too much to take in!
  • 84:: GoaaaalGoal for Sporting. A rapid counter-attack sees Sporting with numerical superioty. The ball is worked to Djalo who fires into the net from 25 metres, with the aid of a deflection off Luisao. It's one crazy night in Lisbon!
  • 82:: GoaaaalGoal for Benfica!!! Thiss incredible match takes another astonishing turn as Rodriguez latches onto a loose ball and lashes the ball high into the net.
  • 79:: GoaaaalGoal for Sporting!!! Izmailov escapes down the right wing and crosses for the unmarked Derlei to knock into the net. Breathless stuff from Sporting. The ecstatic crowd are going wild.
  • 75:: GoaaaalEqualiser for Sporting!!! Izmailov and Moutinho combine on the wing to swing in a cross and Liedson smashes in the low cross. Fantastic spell of attacking football from Sporting.
  • 74:: Sporting win a corner comes and Liedson gets his head to the ball but can't get enough power into his effort to trouble Quim.
  • 72:: Nuno Gomes misses horribly when it seemed easier to score! That could prove a costly mistake.
  • 71:: Yellow CardYellow card for Moutinho for pulling back Sepsi to cut off a dangerous attack.
  • 69:: Fantastic save from Quim prevents Vukcevic from equalising. An enthralling match just get better.
  • 68:: Vukcevic forces Quim into a sprawling save, and Djalo then shoots just over. Sporting are tearing Benfica apart at the moment.
  • 66:: GoaaaalGoal for Sporting!!! Excellent skill from Vukcevic, who works his way to the byeline and crosses for Yannick Djalo to knock the ball into the net. Game on!
  • 63:: Play confined to Benfica's half of the pitch. Sporting pressure is intense. You can guess a goal is coming.
  • 59:: On comes Derlei for Romagnoli. The Brazilian who has missed practically the whole season gets a tremendous ovation from the Sporting faithful. They have not yet given up hope of turning round the result.
  • 58:: Vukcevic has two efforts, one a wild shot high and wide and another a header that skims wide.
  • 56:: Sporting inches away from an equaliser!!! Moutinho fires in a magnificent angles shot from 25 metres, Quim gets a touch on the ball which is enought to deflect it onto the crossbar.
  • 55:: Sporting are building up a good head of steam. Vukcevic fires a shot that flies just wide of the post.
  • 53:: Yellow CardRodriguez picks up a yellow for a challenge on Moutinho. Harsh decision.
  • 52:: Sporting are applying some good pressure, with Benfica clearly opting to soak up the pressure and hit their oppenents on the break.
  • 51:: Yellow CardYellow card for Luisao after an ugly challenge on Liedson on the half-way line.
  • 48:: Tonel and Gomes get involved in a tussle on the edge of the box. The central defender has been Sporting's one good performer out of the back four.
  • 45::

    Excellent match of football in Lisbon, with Benfica close to booking their place in the final of the Portuguese Cup against FC Porto. An electric first 20 minutes saw chances at both ends of the pitch as the two teams went all out attack.


    Rui Costa then took centre stage, finishing off a wonderful move to open the scoring and from that moment onwards Benfica dominated. Nuno Gomes scored a second as Sporting were at sixes and sevens, but the home team stabilised somewhat towards the end of the half. 

    The Lions need an early goal in the second half to have any chance of overhaulling the deficit. 

  • 44:: Benfica come roaring back and it's the two stars of the first half Rui Costa and Di Maria who combine to perfection to allow the young Argentine to lob the ball into the net. However, Sporting are saved by the referee's whistle who rules out the effort for offside - erroneously it transpires from TV replays. 
  • 43:: The hosts are pouring forward in an attempt to get the goal back before half-time. Three corners in succession have Benfica tottering.
  • 41:: Good pressure from Sporting. Izmailov fires in a shot which is deflected over the bar.
  • 39:: Sporting threaten again. Romagnoli crosses and Liedson just fails to connet from three metres out.
  • 36:: Sporting close to pulling back a goal. Luisao gifts the ball to Liedson and only Petit's desperate tackle saves the day for Benfica.
  • 33:: Di Maria is playing out of his skin. The young Argentine causes havoc again with a fine run, ending with a corner needlessly conceded by Grimi. Sporting are inexplicably nervous. The corner comes in and Luisao heads into the ground and just over the bar.
  • 31:: Paulo Bento has seen enough. Off comes Adrien and on comes Russian Izmailov to try and alter the course of the match. Benfica are dominating with at the moment.
  • 28:: GoaaaalBenfica double their lead and it's another wonderful goal!!! Leo shows wonderful attacking awareness to race down the left wing, scything through the Sporting defence and crossing for Nuno Gomes to easily get the better of Veloso and head into the net.
  • 26:: Superb skill from Rui Costa who plays a wondrous pass to Gomes, but the stirkers cut-back is intercepted and cleared by Tonel.
  • 22:: Sporting apply a spell of pressure but Benfica break dangerously again with Rodriguez at the heart of another good move. A long cross finds its way to Nuno Gomes who tries a speculative volley that flies well wide.
  • 20:: The 10,000 Benfica fans are making themselves heard loud and clear at the Alvalade. If the teams keep up this level of excitement we're in for an exhilarating night tonight.
  • 19:: Goaaaal Benfica score!!! Fantastic move between Rui Costa and Di Maria ends with the Portuguese maestro slipping the ball under Patricio with wonferful class.
  • 16:: Excellent play by Rodriguez sets up a Benfica raid. The Uruguayan sets up Di Maria whose dangerous cross is cleared desperately.
  • 14:: Liedson gets the better of a tussle with Leo near the corner flag, advances dangerously into the box but shoots wastefully wide.
  • 10:: Adrien gives away a clumsy free kick in a dangerous position but Rui Costa floats a cross too close to Patricio who easily catches the ball.
  • 9:: Controversy strikes at Alvalade!!! Di Maria latches onto a poor back pass skips past Patricio and goes to ground. Benfica players immediately surround the referee claiming a penalty but the referee ignores the pleas and gives Di Maria a yellow card for simulation. Yellow Card Yellow card for the Argentine.
  • 7:: Grimi tries his luck from distance but shoots over the bar.
  • 5:: Liedson wins a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Moutinho swings in a cross, Tonel rises highest but directs his header wide. Electrifying start to the match.
  • 4:: Play switches to the other end with Di Maria going on a dangerous run, skipping past Veloso and playing a dangerous cross into the box which is cleared with difficulty by Tonel. Di Maria again shows good skills to work a shooting opportunity but his effort is charged down. 
  • 3:: Visibility is poor with a plethora of fireworks leading to a smoke-filled stadimium. It doesn't seem to bother Liedson though, who shows Liedson a clean pair of heels but overruns the ball and the danger is cleared.
  • 1:: First shot of the match. Moutinho plays the ball to Abel but his tame effort from the edge of the box dribbles wide.
  • 0::

    Welcome to a rainy Alvalade stadium in Lisbon for the Portuguese Cup semi-final between eternal rivals Sporting and Benfica. For both teams this competition represents their last chance of winning silverware this season.

     

    Starting Line-ups:

    SPORTING:

    Rui Patrício, Abel, Tonel, Miguel Veloso, Grimi, Adrien Silva, Vukcevic, Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli, Liedson, Yannick


    BENFICA:

    Quim, Nelson, Luisao, Katsouranis, Leo, Petit, Maxi Pereira, Rui Costa, Rodríguez, Cardozo, Nuno Gomes
     













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