Sporting CP win the cup with a 1-2 victory over SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal became Taça da Liga winners for the second consecutive season, beating SL Benfica 1-2 in the final. A turnaround in Leiria saw the team fight back from 1-0 down to win 1-2, Gonçalo Inácio and Pablo Sarabia scoring the goals in the comeback.

It was the fourth Taça da Liga won by Sporting CP, all of which have come in the last five seasons.

Rúben Amorim made a trio of changes for the match from the semifinal against CD Santa Clara in midweek, as Zouhair Feddal, Matheus Nunes and Paulinho were incorporated into the starting XI.

The Sportinguistas in attendance in the stands helped the team begin the game well, winning two corner kicks in the opening minutes and seeing more of the ball. They controlled the pace of the contest against their cross-town rivals, whom they had already beaten in Liga Portugal earlier this season.

Gonçalo Inácio, working in the centre of the defence, stood out for his excellent passes that split the opposition defence, and the first danger provided arose when a cross from Matheus Reis almost surprised goalkeeper Odysseas. This was followed by an arching shot wide by Pedro Gonçalves.

However, against the run of play, SL Benfica made it 1-0 in the 23rd minute. Everton was put through one-on-one with Antonio Adán and finished off the chance.

Sporting CP then responded with a header by Gonçalo Inácio, saved by Odysseas. Pablo Sarabia then tried to surprise the Benfica goalkeeper from long distance, but without success. Both would have their moment in the second half, but the scoreline at the break remained in their opponents' favour.

After the restart, the equaliser came at a crucial moment. In the opening minutes of the second half, Sarabia sent in a corner and Inácio popped up with an accurate header,  met with an explosion of joy in Leiria by the Sporting CP fans.

In the 65th minute, Paulinho headed over off a counterattack and, soon after, the returning Pedro Porro came on to replace Luís Neto. Paulinho came even closer to scoring with a chance that hit the crossbar, off a pass from Matheus Nunes.

With the threat of a penalty shootout looming, the winning goal was scored in the 78th minute. A brilliant pass from Pedro Porro found Sarabia through on Odysseas, and the No.17 finished off with tremendous class.

Manuel Ugarte, Nuno Santos and Tiago Tomás were brought on in the closing moments, as the clock ticked down. The final whistle was received with elation from the players, as they claimed their second piece of silverware of the season.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Luís Neto [C] (Pedro Porro, 66'), Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (Manuel Ugarte, 84'), Matheus Reis, Pablo Sarabia ( Nuno Santos, 88'), Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho (Tiago Tomás, 88').