Late Tiui brace fires Sporting to Portuguese Cup triumph

Sporting 2-0 FC Porto (after extra time)

Sporting retained the Portuguese Cup after running out deserved victors against national champions FC Porto in the Jamor final yesterday.

Goalkeeper Nuno kept Porto level with a series of fine saves early on, before the match became a more tactical affair with extra time always looking likely, even after Porto’s Joao Paulo was sent off on 71 minutes. Enter Brazilian substitute Tiui for Sporting, whose two late goals sparked wild celebrations in the stadium and throughout Lisbon into the night.


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There was a surprise in both initial line-ups, with Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira selecting Mariano Gonzalez instead of usual starter Tarik Sektioui for the Dragons, while for Sporting Derlei got the nod over Montenegrin Vukcevic.

During the opening half hour Porto were unrecognisable from the team that had dominated in the Liga so emphatically. On four minutes Nuno was called into action as Djalo slipped a pass into the box to strike partner Derlei, whose shot was superbly saved by the outstretched arm of the Porto goalkeeper.

Derlei-Nuno battle

Sporting and Derlei again came desperately close to taking the lead in the 17th minute, and once again it was former Porto hero Derlei who found himself with just the goalkeeper between him and net, but Nuno again stood tall to block both the initial shot and the follow-up from the ninja.

After an opening half hour of complete domination by Sporting, Porto at last started to get a foothold in the match. An excellent run and pass by Mariano Gonzalez gave Lisandro Lopez a chance to add to his goal tally this season, but Sporting keeper Rui Patricio did well to repel his shot.

Shortly before half-time Sporting had the ball in the net, but Romagnoli’s strike was ruled out for offside, although TV replays showed the goal should have stood.

In the second half the complexion of the match changed, with FC Porto showing much more aggression and both defences looking secure. Miguel Veloso almost scored direct from a corner, but Nuno again showed sharp reflexes to push the ball over the bar.

On 71 minutes Porto suffered a big blow as Joao Paulo produced a horrendous scything tackle on Joao Moutinho right under the referee’s nose, who had no alternative but to send off the defender.

Despite playing with an extra man and enjoying plenty of possession, Sporting failed to carve out clear-cut chances, while Porto had a penalty appeal turned down when Polga clashed with Lisandro Lopez in the box.

The 90 minutes finished goalless and Paulo Bento surprised many by bringing on Tiui rather than Vukcevic in extra time, but the Brazilian wasted little time in showing he was up to the occasion, firing a daisy-cutter of a shot that beat Nuno and brushed the outside of the post.

Penalty controversy

Play switched to the other end and Lisandro headed a chance into the hands of Rui Patricio, before the key moment came 10 minutes from the final whistle. Lisandro Lopez went on a dangerous run bearing down on the Sporting goal and was brought down by Polga on the right-hand line of the area, possibly meriting a penalty, but the referee thought otherwise and waved play on.

With some Porto players still protesting Sporting broke to the other end of the pitch, and Romagnoli threaded a pass to Tiui, who did well to control the ball first time and fire a shot at goal that deflected off Pedro Emanuel, hit the underside of the bar and rolled into the back of the net.

Porto inevitably threw men forward in a desperate attempt to force an equaliser and a penalty shoot-out, but Sporting stood firm and a late breakaway saw Romagnoli pass to Yannick Djalo, whose cross Lino attempted to cut out, but Tiui did superbly well to keep his eye on the ball and execute a perfect overhead kick that sped past Nuno into the net.

The victory was Sporting’s 15th conquest of the Portuguese Cup, and will leave the Lisbon club feeling the balance is positive on a season replete with problems – a Portuguese Cup triumph and qualification for the Champions League.

As for FC Porto, Jesualdo Ferreira’s team produced far and away the best football seen in Portugal in 2007/08, but will feel they should have done better in the Cup competitions and in Europe.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel (Tiui, 91), Tonel, Polga, Grimi, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Izmailov (Pereirinha, 75), Romagnoli, Derlei (Gladstone, 118), Yannick
Yellow Cards: Abel, Derlei

FC Porto:
Nuno, Joao Paulo, Bruno Alves, Pedro Emanuel, Fucile, Lucho, Paulo Assuncao (Tarik, 112), Raul Meireles (Kazmierczak, 103), Mariano Gonzalez (Lino, 78) Quaresma, Lisandro
Yellow Cards: Paulo Assuncao, Raul Meireles, Lucho
Red Card: Joao Paulo (71)

Goals:
[1-0] Tiu1, 110
[2-0] Tiui, 116