A 1-1 draw with SL Benfica means the competition is decided with a shootout

Sporting Clube de Portugal lost out in the final of the Taça da Liga on penalties to SL Benfica at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria, after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Viktor Gyökeres scored the goal for Sporting CP.

For the game -a rematch of the 2021/22 final-, coach Rui Borges chose Franco Israel, Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Jeremiah St. Juste, Maxi Araújo, Geny Catamo, João Simões, Morten Hjulmand, Geovany Quenda, Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres as his starting lineup.

SL Benfica began with more of the ball, but Sporting CP responded with a series of quick moves and opportunities. Quenda had the first chance, with Otamendi cutting it out in time, then two corners in a row piled on the pressure. The danger only passed after  Hjulmand missed his shot from the edge of the area.

In response, Di María also tried to score from outside the area with a low shot, but Franco Israel had no trouble holding it. Gyökeres made a fast move from the right, ending with his shot taking a deflection and going wide. From the resulting corner, Maxi Araújo forced goalkeeper Trubin to make another save.

A very intense opening spell continued with Sporting CP coming very close to a goal in the 15th minute: Set up by João Simões, Quenda had his effort kept out by Trubin. At the other end, Franco Israel made a save from a low cross from Tomás Araújo. The follow-up from Di María was blocked by Morten Hjulmand.

The match then lost some of its initial pace, but opportunities continued steadily. SL Benfica opened the scoring after half an hour of play, with a goal from Schjelderup.

It didn't take long for Sporting CP to try to equalise, with Quenda fed by Viktor Gyökeres and firing a shot wide. Eduardo Quaresma also threatened with a hit from inside the area, but it also went off-target.

Sporting CP finally pulled back level from a penalty: Maxi Araújo was brought down in the area by Florentino, before Gyökeres converted the spot kick.

In the second period, the first chance of note was a deflected strike from João Simões at the edge of the area, after a delivery from Gyökeres. Franco Israel had more work to do in the Sporting CP area, thwarting consecutive moves by Di María and then by Kökçü. In response, after insistence from Sporting CP, Catamo pulled the trigger from the edge of the area, but António Silva managed to deflect it with his shoulder. 

Close to the 70th minute, Rui Borges then started to make changes, bringing on Iván Fresneda for Eduardo Quaresma. Ten minutes later, he made another two substitutions, withdrawing Geny Catamo and João Simões and bringing on Zeno Debast and Conrad Harder.

Despite the insistence of both teams, the scoreline remained deadlocked and the game went straight to penalties. Trubin saved Francisco Trincão's spot kick, and it was SL Benfica who lifted the Taça da Liga.

Sporting CP will play again on Friday, away to Rio Ave FC in Liga Portugal.