A 1-2 win sees the team past CD Tondela in the Group Stage

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat CD Tondela 1-2 in Group C of the Taça da Liga, earning a place in the Final Four of the competition. They will play SC Braga in the semifinals, in Leiria in January 2024.

For the penultimate match of the year, the last before Christmas, Rúben Amorim made some changes to the starting XI compared to that for O Clássico five days prior. Included were Franco Israel, Luís Neto – celebrating his 100th game for the club–, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, Morten Hjulmand, Daniel Bragança, Nuno Santos, Francisco Trincão, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves.

Sporting CP knew that they would progress with any result besides a defeat by two or more goals, but were not speculating in the early going. After just five minutes, following a corner, Paulinho shot against the woodwork.

Then it was Daniel Bragança's turn to threaten, with a low shot saved by CD Tondela goalkeeper Ricardo Silva. He needed a second attempt, but found the net from it: After receiving a lofted ball from Nuno Santos, Bragança controlled with his chest and then shot straight in from close range in acrobatic style.

CD Tondela never forced Franco Israel into action in the second half, which meant that the Uruguayan international spent practically the entire first half warming up on a very cold night at the Joao Cardoso. He had to intervene just twice, as well as dealing with sporadic passes back from the defence during dominant spells of possession.

At the other end, Ricardo Silva had to be much more attentive and, in the 32nd minute, he was once again unable to do deal with a shot from Paulinho. A move between Pedro Gonçalves and Bragança ended with the midfielder serving up a backheel for the striker to smash the ball home, taking the score to 0-2.

Five minutes later, Paulinho had everything in his favour for a second goal, after a one-two with Pedro Gonçalves left him through on goal, although he struck off-target. Shortly afterwards, in another incursion into the opposition area, Francisco Trincão went down but no penalty was awarded.

With a 0-2 advantage for Sporting CP following a dominant first half, the second stanza began with just one change in the lineup: Marcus Edwards came on to replace Gonçalves.

Sporting CP continued to have more of the ball and reached the opposition area several times, but a CD Tondela side with nothing to lose managed to be more daring and called Franco Israel into action much earlier than in the first half. Luan Farías' shot, in the 58th minute, did not require excessive effort from the goalkeeper, however.

Marcus Edwards crossed from the left after getting to the line in another chance for the visitors, but Paulinho didn't arrive in time to meet the effort and Ricardo made the collection.

After the hour, Amorim took off Bragança and Neto and brought on Dário Essugo and Eduardo Quaresma, who in 2021/2022 had played for CD Tondela on loan.

Trincão and Paulinho both had chances, the latter forcing Ricardo into the best stop of the evening. However, it was the home team who, on a rare foray into the Sporting CP area, scored a goal to make it 1-2. Hélder Tavares, who had only just come on as a substitute, took advantage of a mistake in the defence to convert.

With the deficit reduced, CD Tondela believed they could get a draw for pride, but Sporting CP always had the game under control and threatened before the end through Trincão, Nuno Santos and Edwards.

After their second win in the Group, Sporting CP will face SC Braga, while in the other semifinal SL Benfica will play GD Estoril Praia.

Sporting CP and CD Tondela  meet again January 18th at Alvalade, in the Round of 16 of the Taça de Portugal. Before that, they play next Saturday away to Portimonense SC in Liga Portugal.