Sporting wins ‘Dobradinha’ in a new controversial duel with rival Benfica

23 years later, Sporting once again won a ‘double’ by joining the Portuguese Cup to the same season. The top two teams of the time played a trophy, which fell again to the sportinguistas.

Rui Borges’s men won 3-1 after extension in a duel in which they were losing and forced another 30 minutes of departure by falling off the cloth. Gyökeres, Harder and Trincão scored the goals, with Kökçü scoring Benfica’s.

It is another broken historical record, after a two -time championship that has been running around for 71 years. The last ‘double’ of the lions had been in 2001/02, now overcoming the seventh of its palmées, after 1940/41, 1947/48.1953/54, 1973/74 and 1981/82.

The two -time championship festivities, achieved the previous weekend, on the final journey of the I Liga, performed for a few days and Sporting’s team returned to work only midweek, but that did not stop it from erecting the cup.

However, this feat was a few seconds of not happening. Benfica has been winning since 47 minutes, the result of a goal from the Turkish midfielder Orkun Kökçü, but the Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres took the departure to extend at 90+11.

A great penalty committed by the alternate used Renato Sanches over the Swedish – at a time when referee Luís Godinho was preparing to whistle for the end of the game and starting the incarnate party – he lay down everything to lose seconds of the party. In terms of quality of play and the number of goal opportunities created, Benfica was overrun during regular time, but then the decline for the goal conceded at the end gave Sporting additional strength, much better in extra time.

Eagle coach Bruno Lage stressed at the press conference after the game: « For 99 minutes and 30 seconds, we were clearly the best team on the field, » he said, making harsh criticism of the arbitration team.

The goals pointed out by Conrad Harder on 99 minutes and Francisco Trincão, 120+1, sentenced a new Sporting title before the tears of the Argentine Angel di María extreme, who may have played his last game for the incarnated.

Rui Borges, on the side of Sporting, praised one more achievement: « I couldn’t ask for more. We were in the decisions of everything we were inserted. It can only be proud all the way. Our work has always answered for us. »

However, it is important to mention the contours of this triumph. The controversy settled in the 90s+4 minute, when Sporting’s Brazilian defense, Matheus Reis, stepped on the head of Italian striker Andrea Belotti, in a unnoticed move. In advance of what would become the goal of equality and the beginning of the Leonine Turn, this event went unpunished, without any intervention of the final video, Tiago Martins, with Matheus Reis fled to the expulsion at a key moment.

It is not known what would happen until the final whistle of Luís Godinho, but Benfica was in advantage and, in numerical inferiority, could be complicated for Sporting to rescue equality, a few minutes from the end of the duel.

This bid motivated harsh criticism not only by coach Bruno Lage, but also from the incarnate president, Rui Costa, who was in the mixed zone of the National Stadium to express his discontent by the way Benfica lost the trophy.

« There are situations that go beyond the boundaries. There is a deliberate and proposed to the head of Belotti, where the foul was still against Benfica. Otamendi takes an elbow in the face of a Sporting player with yellow and the game continued. They are more bids in a crucial phase of the game so as not to get into question today, » Rui Costa, the leader of the incarnated.

The truth is that Sporting lives today in a state of grace, with Frederico Varandas to be the most titled president in the club’s history. Already Benfica is experiencing a crisis, being lacking sports achievements, which weakens Rui Costa’s leadership.

With elections scheduled for the month of October, the defense rises from Tom and Rui Costa, although already guaranteed Bruno Lage’s continuity in the technical position, has decisions to make, to save his skin in a possible reconditeration.

Asked about continuity, or not, in office, Bruno Lage said: « I will never be the problem. I came to be a solution and help. The next step is to talk to the president. What is beneficial to Benfica, so it will be, » said the coach.

Until the beginning of next season, Benfica also disputes the Club World Cup, such as FC Porto, while two -time champion Sporting will have long vacation.

The incarnates only snatched the league cup this time, precisely in view of Sporting, through the penalties, after a draw to a ball.

FC Porto, on the other hand, was content with the Super Cup at the beginning of the season, also against the Alvalade ensemble, which, at national level, was present in all decisions and cemented his statute, and could see influential players, such as Gyökeres.