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FC Porto is one of the finalists of the Portuguese Cup for the third consecutive edition, the fifth time in the last six years, and is prepared to face Sporting on Sunday, May 26, at Estádio Nacional (17h15, RTP1). To guarantee a spot in the final, the current cup winners received and beat Vitória de Guimarães, 3-1, in the second leg of the semi-finals, played at Estádio do Dragão this Wednesday.

Sérgio Conceição changed six players in comparison to the tie against Famalicão on Saturday (2-2), but the advantage that the blues and whites brought from Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (0-1) was gone in the first minute, when Afonso Freitas scored in a play where the shot was deflected by Jorge Fernandes (0-1).

The reaction took ten minutes, and came with Galeno cutting inside, but with the ball ending up in goalkeeper Charles' hands, just before a shot from Otavio, after Pepê's pass. Francisco Conceição was then tackled by the opposing goalkeeper in the following attack, but referee Artur Soares Dias ordered it to continue, until VAR Fábio Melo finally called to the footage. The referee then had no doubts about pointing to the penalty spot - which Borevkovic destroyed in an unsportsmanlike gesture duly punished with a yellow card.

Mehdi Taremi didn't flinch for the penalty, tying the match (1-1) and bringing some justice to the game. Pepe, receiving the pass from Galeno, wasted the opportunity to score, Pepê also shot straight at the goalkeeper and Francisco Conceição was the one confirming the turnaround after minute 45, finishing a play with João Mário on their favourite wing(2-1).

The break was good for the opponent, who returned feisty and pushed forward, as could be seen in Tiago Silva's shot, that got deflected and beat Cláudio Ramos at the start of the second half. Nuno Santos tried from distance, but the blue and white goalkeeper, Cláudio Ramos, saved it, and then it was Galeno trying his luck, but his shot was deflected by the defence, giving way to a number of good opportunities missed: two by Galeno and another by his countryman Pepê, all in good position.

The new Brazilian international star was replaced by Romário Baró, and the midfielder only needed 6 minutes to do a great pass to Pepê that ended in the 3-1. The number 11 was replaced by Gonçalo Borges, Bruno Gaspar missed a golden opportunity to score, Nico, Francisco and Taremi were replaced by Eustáquio, Wendel Silva and Danny Namaso, and this one had the time and space to do much better 88 minutes in. 90 minutes in, a confusing play ended up at João Mário's feet and died in Charles' gloves. The focus now turns to the championship and to Rio Maior, where the Dragons will face Casa Pia on Sunday at 18h00 (Sport TV1).

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