The team lose 1-0 to FC Porto, missing out on a trip to the final

After their 1-2 set back at Alvalade in the first leg, Sporting Clube de Portugal went to the Estádio do Dragão for the decisive second leg of the Taça de Portugal semi-finals, eventually falling 1-0 to FC Porto and going out of the competition.

Coach Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting XI from the derby against SL Benfica: João Palhinha and Nuno Santos were rotated out, with Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Reis (back from suspension) replacing them.

Despite the punishments related to the last Clássico played at the Dragão being decided just 48 hours before this game, all the players sanctioned were able to be part of the game: Bruno Tabata and Matheus Reis thanks to the appeal to the Disciplinary Board, and Pepe for the opposing side in a decision made two hours before kickoff.

With a sold out crowd in the stands and rain falling on pitch, Sporting CP took the initiative in the first half (43%-57% in possession) and had the first opportunity within the opening five minutes. Off a corner, the ball flew out of the area, where Ugarte shot wide of Marchesín's goal. A well organised FC Porto responded with several moves upfield, but without creating real danger for goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

Sporting CP would continue to attack, and Pablo Sarabia produced a delightful chip -albeit in an illegal position. Shortly after, from a recovery Pedro Porro shot wide and then Marchesín stifled another attempt by Sarabia. The number of fouls increased, as well as the number of protests, breaking up the flow of the game.

In the final minutes of the first half, FC Porto improved and Zaidu had the best opportunity for the hosts, shooting wide off a quick offensive transition. Sporting CP would have to go looking to score the two goals needed to make it through.

Matheus Nunes, in the 50th minute, came very close to cutting the deficit, but could not beat the keeper when through on goal.

Ricardo Esgaio came on in place of Luís Neto for Sporting CP, but the midfield continued to struggle with several turnovers. FC Porto's Fábio Vieira shot from distance, forcing Adán's first save of the second half, and it was followed by two more shots by Vitinha: One over and the other into the hands of the Spanish goalkeeper.

With Sporting CP having more difficulties going forward and looking to break the deadlock, Amorim introduced Marcus Edwards, removing Sarabia in the 70th minute.

The stalemate remained until the 83rd minute, when second half substitute Toni Martínez hunted a ball inside the area. The goal was only given after a VAR check, but put FC Porto further ahead on aggregate.

Amorim moved Sebastián Coates to centre forward for a last push, but it was in vain for Sporting CP. The team completed the game with ten men after Porro was shown a straight red card, and were eliminated from the Taça de Portugal.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Luís Neto (Ricardo Esgaio 56'), Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (João Palhinha 84'), Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos 84'), Pablo Sarabia (Marcus Edwards 71') and Paulinho.

The coach looks to a strong second leg for progress after a loss to FC Porto

After the final whistle in O Clássico, coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference to analyse the first leg of the Taça de Portugal semi-final.

"In the first half we played well, we created opportunities and there were moves in which we could have created more danger, but we rushed things a lot. Then, a little like what happened against SC Braga, we scored and then, from an unnecessary penalty, we allowed FC Porto back into the game. We immediately wanted to score another goal, and we ended up suffering without having time to regain our balance and calm the team down. We chased the result, but we couldn't get it," he began by telling journalists at the Estádio José Alvalade. Amorim noted the task ahead in the second leg.

"We have to score at least two goals there and win the game, and that's what we're going to try to do."

The coach considered that the penalty conceded was a key moment for the outcome of the match. 

"The penalty took us completely out of the game and changed it. We had things under control, and we were clearly the better side in the first half and at the beginning of the second, when we scored. With our changes, it took us a while to understand the positions we should have had and also to be calmer," he considered.

Asked about the adjustments that he made during the match, Amorim explained that "We changed the characteristics of the players, with Matheus [Reis] in the middle, Pablo [Sarabia] higher on the left, two players to put in crosses and with Marcus Edwards between the lines. We didn't change our way of playing, but we changed the characteristics. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and we can't turn it around today. We have to focus on the next game," he stated.

"There is still a lot to do. We are competing for the league and we are clearly still in the Taça de Portugal."

Sporting CP lose 1-2 at home in the Taça de Portugal semifinals

A 1-2 loss at home to FC Porto on Wednesday night leaves Sporting Clube de Portugal needing a turnaround in the Copa de Portugal semi-finals. An opening goal from Pablo Sarabia set the team on course for victory, but the visitors responded with two goals either side of the hour.

With 44,231 spectators in the stands, the Estádio José Alvalade was buzzing for another edition of 'O Clássico.' There was a sombre note before the opening whistle, however, as both teams addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This included captain Sebastián Coates wearing a blue and yellow armband -the colours of Ukraine.

Although he was without João Palhinha through suspension and the injured Pedro Gonçalves, coach Rúben Amorim once again had Zouhair Feddal, Bruno Tabata and Sarabia available. The latter's introduction to the starting XI was one of two changes made from the weekend's fixture in Madeira, as he and Luís Neto came in for Daniel Bragança and Islam Slimani.

At the beginning of a typically heated game between two arch rivals, the first approach on the opposition goal went to Os Leões: Nuno Santos' cross was cut out on its way into the area. 

From the first minute, both teams tried to build play from the back, but without the ball it was Sporting CP who proved to be more daring, accumulating several recoveries in the opposition midfield.

In possession, the team did not hesitate to launch long passes to their forwards high upfield, and following one of those moves, in the 23rd minute, the first great opportunity arose: After a cross by Sarabia, the ball found its way to Matheus Nunes, who shot just off target.

Shortly after, Paulinho fell very close to the edge of the area – with no foul given in his favour- and Ugarte shot straight at opposition goalkeeper Marchesín. Far more comfortable with the tempo of the match, only Sporting CP were creating danger. Sarabia had his turn at a chance, not quite guiding Nuno Santos' cross towards goal. Pedro Porro hit the side netting before the break, and the score remained deadlocked.

Looking to freshen up the attack, Amorim brought on Marcus Edwards at halftime to replace Nuno Santos and the minutes following the restart couldn't have gone better: In the 49th minute, Porro surprised the defence by playing a low free kick onto the edge of the area, where Sarabia shot first time to score his 13th goal of the campaign.

Shortly after, Luís Neto made a decisive intervention to stop Mehdi Taremi, but the response from the away team would come shortly afterwards: First, Taremi converted a penalty kick, then Evanilson finished off a counterattack, turning the scoreling around in the space of six minutes.

Suddenly, the roles in the game were reversed, and it was Sporting CP chasing an equaliser. One might have come their way had Coates reached a dangerous ball into the area. Amorim took a gamble, partnering Islam Slimani with Paulinho in the frontline, then bringing on Daniel Bragança, but the defensive organisation of the opposition made them difficult to break down.

Nevertheless, Sporting CP nearly made it 2-2 in the eight minutes of added time. Marchesín's decisive save from a header by Coates kept the score at 1-2, and Os Leões will have work to do in the second leg away on April 20th. For now, in their crosshairs is a Liga Portugal game against FC Arouca, this Saturday, at 8:30pm local time.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Luís Neto (Islam Slimani 71'), Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Daniel Bragança 81'), Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos (Marcus Edwards 46'), Pablo Sarabia and Paulinho.