Sporting crushes Porto 4-1 in Taça da Liga

The Estádio de Alvalade was far from welcoming as Porto was devastated 4-1 by Sporting in the semi-final of the Taça da Liga.

Jesualdo Ferreira's side took the lead with Tarik Sektioui quality strike from the right hand side only ten minutes after the start. However following that score the Azuis e brancos were rough over with four unanswered goals.



Leandro Romagnoli brought Sporting level with the the Dragões nine minutes before the break connecting from the spot.



He added his second from the spot three minutes after the break from the spot after former Rapid Bucureşti man Cristian Săpunaru was adjudged for mauling Hélder Postiga. While some in the media and certainly Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira debated the call, it is quite obvious that it was the only one the referee, Mr. Carlos Xistra could make.



Former Porto man Derlei (Vanderlei Fernandes Silva) severed the hopes of his old club as he gave Sporting the two goal lead six minutes after the hour. In a controversial call he was he was played in alone on Nuno it what appeared to be an offside before sending the ball in.



Derlei nailed the match shut with a brilliant volley near the spot with ten minutes left to bring the scoreline to a 4-1 conclusion.

Taça da Liga semi-final preview

The Taça da Liga continues today with the Dragões traveling to Lisbon to face Sporting at the Estádio de Alvalade. Jesualdo Ferreira has left Cristian Săpunaru, Milan Stepanov, Nelson Benítez,Freddy Guarín, Mariano González, Ernesto Farías and Tomás Costa out of the lineup and debuting a number of new players including Andrés Madrid. The former former Gimnasia La Plata midfielder joined the Azuis e brancos from Braga on-loan to seasons end and could be an intriguing piece for the champions defense of their crown

Sporting manager Paulo Bento will be without striker Liedson who was injured against CD Trofense on the weekend as well as Miguel Veloso. However Fábio Rochemback and Russian international Marat Izmailov are back to full health.

Nacional send Porto out of Taça da Liga

Jesualdo Ferreira's gamble with his many first-team changes to his roster was dealt with sternly as Nacional cast Porto out of with a 2-1 loss.

With tiny Estádio da Madeira blanketed in a thick dense fog it is surprising that Lucílio Baptista did not call the match as unplayable. However after an early efforts by the Dragões the home side took the lead twenty-three minutes in as Ruben Micael poached a goal from point-blank close range after Nuno's save. However the lead didn't last long as Romanian international Cristian Săpunaru leveled the match only thirteen minutes later as he capitalized on a defensive error that provided him the ball just above the box and without delay he sent the ball to the back of the net from the top of the box. After going to the break even with the match conditions horrific, little strategy could be implemented as players were fortunate to see ten meters in front of them. Finally with six minutes remaining Miguel Fidalgo added the winning strike to give the home side the victory.

The decision to allow this match to be played was a horrible decision and Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional needs to review the situation and ensure a decision as such never occurs again.

Porto continues to advance in Taça da Liga

Porto continues to advance in Taça da Liga with a 2-1 victory over defending champions Vitória de Setúbal at Estádio do Dragão. It was a touch and go match and came down to a brilliant goal from Rabiola with thirteen minutes remaining. Jesualdo Ferreira will be pleased with the success of his lineup who were without many regulars. With Bruno Alves, Fernando, Jorge Fucile, Helton, Hulk, Lisandro López, Lucho González, Raul Meireles, Cristian Rodríguez and Rolando all rested, Porto put forth an efficient display and advances to the next round.

After a tough early going, Ernesto Farías opened the scoring thirty-one minutes in as he seized on a 'keeper error and headed the ball in.



Leandro Lima evened the match from Vitória de Setúbal scoring from the spot on the hour after Cristian Săpunaru was adjudged a penalty.



However Rabiola found the winner, heading in a stunning cross from Diogo Viana with thirteen minutes remaining to give the Dragões the winner.




Porto
Ventura; Sapunaru, Stepanov, Pedro Emanuel «cap» e Benítez; Tomás Costa (Diogo Viana 73'), Pele e Guarin; Candeias (Rabiola 67'), Farias e Mariano (Josué 87')

Vitória de Setúbal
Bruno Vale, Janício, Robson, Auri e Cissokho; Ricardo Chaves; Elias, Sandro (Bruno Gama 46'), «cap» e Bruno Ribeiro (Mateus 78'); Leandro Lima e Leandro Branco (Carrijo 81')

Porto - Vitória de Setúbal Taça da Liga match preview

Inaugural Taça da Liga winners Vitória de Setúbal come to Estádio do Dragão to face Porto in third round action of the tournament.

Mariano González commented on first leg of the Taça da Liga match against Vitória de Setúbal:

"Our goal for Thursday is to do our best and win the match. It is our first match in the competition and it would be great to make a successful entrance in it. (Vitória de) Setúbal match preview is the title holder of the League Cup and a difficult opponent, and I am sure they will give their best to defend their position.

"F.C. Porto has found the consistency it was searching for and that is making the difference. It took us more time than it did last season, because we have new players that needed a longer adapting period. The first place in the league is a huge boost for us. It’s the place we like to be at and we have to work hard to maintain it."

The Argentine international commented on his lowered playing time:

"It is natural that I want to play more often and to be on the first squad. That’s the ambition of all players of F.C. Porto. There’s a healthy and loyal competition among the group.

"I will face tomorrow’s match as I do one of any other competition. We have to win the clash, because a false step at this point in the League Cup would make things harder for us in order to qualify for the semi-finals. A title is in game and the pressure to conquer it is high. Furthermore, we play at home and that gives us an additional responsibility."

Jesualdo Ferreira has went into the match with the firm opinion to rest many of his top tier players as he has left out Bruno Alves, Fernando, Jorge Fucile, Helton, Hulk, Lisandro López, Lucho González, Raul Meireles, Cristian Rodríguez and Rolando out of the lineup.