Benfica in the Portuguese Cup Final
SL Benfica will play FC Porto in the Portuguese Cup final after defeating CF Os Belenenses 3-1 in the second semi-final tonight.
Without influential captain and winger Simão Sabrosa due to flu, Benfica made the perfect start to the match, and led 2-0 inside ten minutes. Croatian striker Tomislav Šokota scored both, playing a one-two with Geovanni in the seventh minute before shooting past Belenenses goalkeeper Marco Aurélio.
Two minutes later, Benfica earned a free-kick on the right and Šokota rose highest to head Petit's kick into the net. Petit was taken off shortly before half-time with an injury to his left thigh and is now likely to miss the second leg of Benfica's UEFA Cup fourth-round tie with FC Internazionale and Portugal's friendly with Italy.
Belenenses tried to respond to their early deficit, but the best they could muster were two long shots from winger Verona and left-back Gonçalo Brandão, both of which were saved by Benfica goalkeeper José Moreira. Benfica added a third goal in the 35th minute, this time through Portuguese international midfield player Tiago, who shot past Marco Aurélio from just outside the area after a clearance by central defender Hélder Rosário had fallen kindly for the midfield player.
Belenenses pulled a goal back five minutes after half-time, Hélder Rosário atoning for his earlier error with a header from a corner, but thereafter never looked like threatening the home side's lead.
Source: Uefa.com
