Sporting won its 18th title, ending a six-year drought without the cup, but remains third in the ranking of biggest winners
Two weeks later, Benfica e Sporting met again in the biggest Portuguese derby. Once again, the Lions came out on top. After all, they came out behind, tied in the last minute, came back in extra time, won 3-1 and were crowned Portuguese Cup champions at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor, this Sunday (25/5). Kökçü opened the scoring, while Gyökeres, Harder e Trincão consolidated the comeback. In this way, Sporting won its 18th title, ending a six-year drought without the cup, but remains third in the ranking of biggest winners.
Thus, Benfica and Porto are ahead, with 26 and 20 titles, in that order. Boavista and Vitória de Setúbal complete the top five, with 5 and 3 titles. Thus, Sporting will end the 2024/2025 season as Portuguese champion and Portuguese Cup champion, while Benfica finished runner-up in both. Along the way to the final, Sporting defeated Amarante, Santa Clara, Gil Vicente and Rio Ave. Benfica, in turn, eliminated Estrela Amadora, Farense, Braga and Tirsense. Porto, it is worth remembering, was eliminated by Moreirense in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup (which precedes the round of 16).
Benfica had less possession, but more efficiency and finishing in the first half. The Eagles, in fact, came back from the break determined to kill the game right away. Thus, they opened 1-0 after just 2 minutes, with Turkish striker Kökçü shooting from long range. Five minutes later, striker Bruma extended the lead, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by him at the start of the play. The scenario, however, changed a lot: Sporting made the most of their home advantage, put pressure on their rivals and managed to equalize with Gyökeres converting a penalty in the 56th minute of the second half. The draw, therefore, dragged the match into extra time. Sporting had the upper hand in the additional 30 minutes and scored a goal in each half. First with Harder and then with Trincão.
Sporting’s hero, striker Gyökeres may have said goodbye to the team, after all, he is in the sights of Arsenal, who are preparing a big move for the Swede. It is worth remembering that the Gunners played almost the entire season without a man of the trade, improvising with Saka. Gyökeres is 26 and has now completed his second season with Sporting. The Portuguese league’s top scorer, he has scored 97 goals in two years. For Benfica, the decision marked the farewell of midfielder Di María after two seasons with Benfica on Portuguese turf, where he accumulated 32 goals and 22 assists in 88 games. He even came off the bench for this duel against Sporting. At 37 years old, he is one of the greatest athletes of the 21st century.
