Chaves net late goal to put Sporting CP out of the Portuguese Cup

With a total of five changes to starting XI against Chaves this Tuesday in comparison to Saturday's fixture, Sporting CP were unable to secure the win and saw this season's Portuguese Cup campaign brought to an end by a late goal from the host.

With Beto, Paulo Oliveira, Jefferson, Bryan Ruiz and André in for Rui Patrício, Rúben Semedo, Bruno César, Campbell and Alan Ruiz the team from Alvalade made nervy start to the encounter and Beto was called into action twice in the first 15 minutes.

Eventually Sporting CP settled and both Gelson Martins (27') and Coates (41') came close to goal before the break, before both Jefferson and André were forced off for injury (replaced by Bruno César and Campbell).

Sporting CP came out much better after the break and determined to get ahead. After three minutes of action Bruno César picked out Bas Dost for the Dutchman to fire just wide of the mark.

The fixture looked to be heading for extra-time but an 87th minute header Ponck following a free-kick from the right got the better of Beto and ended Sporting CP's 2016-17 Cup hopes.

Sales for two coming encounters against GD Chaves (Liga NOS and Portuguese Cup)

Sporting Clube de Portugal has began sales for the two coming matches against GD Chaves as follows:

LIGA NOS MATCHDAY 17

. Price: 13€
. Kick-off: 14th of January (Saturday) at 18h15

PORTUGUESE CUP QUARTER-FINAL

. Price: 5€
. Kick-off: 17th of January (Tuesday) at 20h15

Both matches will be played in Estádio Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, Chaves. Sales in Estádio José Alvalade are as follows:

WEDNESDAY (10H TO 20H) | Members with a Gamebox 2016/2017
THURSDAY (10H TO 20H) | Members
FRIDAY (10H TO 14H) | General Public

A valid Gamebox or Member card must be presented on the first two days of sales (December 2016 fees paid), with each card valid for one ticket. Each person may be bring a maximum of 4 cards.

Semi-final encounter with V. Guimarães or Sp. Covilhã awaits the winner

Sporting CP will travel to Desportivo Chaves in the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. The fixture will be played from the 17th to the 19th of January. The round's other matches are Benfica-Leixões, Sp. Covilhã-V. Guimarães and Estoril-Académica.

The draw also set up the semi-final fixtures, with the winner of Sporting CP's match to face the winner of Vitória Guimarães or Sporting Covilhã.

Sporting CP's director for football, Octávio Machado, was at the draw and was keen to alert to the dangers of a Cup visit to Chaves: "It is always a nice trip and it is the chance to take some good football to a part of the region that has been denied of that in recent years. Chaves are a team that demand our respect and they have already knocked out FC Porto. That won't take away from our determination and we want to reach the final of this competition."

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's Portuguese Cup showing

"We are in every competition to win, there is no other way for us", affirmed Jorge Jesus after his side's Portuguese Cup win against Vitória de Setúbal (1-0) on Wednesday night.

The Alvalade boss was in his usual analytical mood at the final whistle, noting: "I thought it was going to be a hard game. Vitória play really well at home and they are well set up. The penalty could have made things easier for us, but we did better in the second-half. We had less time to recover for this game than our opponent did and the lads were tired after Benfica, but Byran coming on balanced it out and we started moving the ball around more. Joel looked better down the left as well. It was a good game with a nice goal."

Although squad rotation was largely expected, Jesus made just a single change for the encounter, bringing on Campbell for Bryan Ruiz). "I picked the right squad for this match. I did hesitate to rest William and Adrien, but I knew that Adrien could battle through. I didn't thing mixing things up was the right thing to do tonight", finished the Sporting coach.

Strike form Bas Dost secures passage into Portuguese Cup quarter-finals

Sporting CP claimed a place in the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals this Wednesday, courtesy of a 1-0 win in Setúbal secured with a goal from Bas Dost.

The team from Alvalade made the better start to the game of the two sides, holding down spells of possession against a Vitória de Setúbal side that began to venture forward as time ticked over. Some at times brave attacking saw chances on Patrício's goal begin to materialise, like on 14 minutes when Edinho came close to beating the Sporting CP keeper after a scrappy pass by Rúben Semedo.

Sporting CP responded and six minutes later Adrien could have put his side ahead, but the Alvalade skipper was unable to find the back of the net from the penalty spot, being denied by a fine save from Trigueira.

With the cold setting in, chances started to thin out for both sides. Jorge Jesus' side continued to control proceedings, while Setúbal preferred to sit back and wait for the occasional chance to hit on the break.

The deadlock was finally broken with quarter of an hour left on the clock, when a diving header from Bas Dost connected with a cross from Marvin Zeegelaar. The goal was enough to secure the result and the respective place in the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals.

Jorge Jesus looking forward to this week's Portuguese Cup action

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Tuesday evening, looking ahead to the midweek Portuguese Cup encounter against Vitória de Setúbal.

"It is good that we have this game. We are coming out of an important match, that we didn't win. We have been playing well in this competition and it is important for us to go on a good cup run", said the Alvalade boss, going on to speak about the opposition in more detail: "Vitória de Setúbal are a good side in this competition and they have won it twice. We want to get through this round and give our fans something to smile about."

Tickets for Setúbal to go on sale on Thursday

Tickets for the Portuguese Cup encounter between Vitória Futebol Clube and Sporting Clube de Portugal will go on sale on Thursday at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices (open from 10h to 20h).

Kick-off is scheduled for 21h00 on Wednesday the 14th of December, in Estádio do Bonfim.

GOAL END | €7.5 (exclusively for Sporting Clube de Portugal Members) or €10

LATERAL | €18

CENTRAL | €22

Jorge Jesus's side on the road in the Portuguese Cup last-16

Sporting CP will travel to Vitória Futebol Clube (Vitória de Setúbal) in the Portuguese Cup last-16, in what is the only encounter between two Liga NOS teams.

The fixture will be played between the 13th and 15th od December in Estádio do Bonfim.

Sporting CP's director for football, Octávio Machado, was at the draw and noted: “It is a respectable opponent and I have a lot of personal admiration for them. It will be a hard match, but we want to get into the final of the Portuguese Cup. We will do everything we can to win this."

Draw in full:

Leixões - Tondela

Real Massamá - Benfica

Estoril Praia - Sanjoanense

Torrense - Chaves

SC Braga - SC Covilhã

Académica - Penafiel

V. Setúbal - SPORTING

V. Guimarães - Vilafranquense