This Tuesday, Vitória de Guimarães qualified for the final of the Football League Cup for the first time, by overcoming Sporting in added time and winning 2-1, with two goals from Alioune Ndoye.
Intense and very balanced first half, with shared dominance. The conquerors even came out more pressing, but it was the lions who took the advantage. But first, Francisco Trincão tried his luck from outside the area, but the Portuguese international’s shot went towards the Guimarães goalkeeper.
Shortly after, Francisco Trincão returned to the game and scored the opening goal of the match. Excellent pass from Trincão for Luis Suárez, with his left foot, to shoot inside the area, for the first goal of the match, in Leiria.
Vitória de Guimarães responded to Sporting’s goal through Gonçalo Nogueira. The player from Guimarães shot hard from the edge of the area, earning Sporting the quick reaction of Matheus Reis, who blocked the shot and threw himself onto the pitch.
Setback for Sporting in the 24th minute. Fotis Ioannidis was injured, forcing Rui Borges to be forced to substitute. Alisson replaced Sporting’s Greek striker.
The lions were a little on top of the match and only didn’t double their advantage because Charles was huge in two moves practically in a row. First to save a shot from Luis Suárez. The Colombian forward, in the front zone, shot for an excellent intervention by the Guimarães goalkeeper. Then, defending a shot from Alisson near the corner of the small area. The Lions winger had everything to score.
In first-half stoppage time, Rodrigo Abascal attempted an Olympic goal before midfield. The ball went towards the goal, earning Sporting the prompt intervention of Rui Silva who was quick to retreat to avoid the draw.
In the second half and in the first minutes, Sporting created some excitement. Alisson Santos and Francisco Trincão’s cross had everything to score, at the edge of the small area, he couldn’t make the right deflection. Shortly afterwards, Charles avoided Sporting’s second with a good save from João Simões’ strong shot inside the area.
In the 55th minute, an excellent counterattack from Sporting led by Trincão which culminated in a strong shot from Luis Suárez for a good intervention by Charles.
Shortly after game time, another setback for Sporting and Rui Borges. Eduardo Quaresma left on a stretcher after a clash of heads with Samu from Vitória de Guimarães. The Leonine coach made two changes, one of them forced. Eduardo Quaresma and Flávio Gonçalves left, Morita and Rômulo entered.
Vitória de Guimarães was growing in the match and Rui Silva avoided the equalizer. Header from Noah Saviolo for the attentive defense of the Sporting goalkeeper. The Guimarães, in search of a draw, opened up spaces in their defense and in the 84th minute, Charles saved a strong shot from Alisson and afterwards, Charles shone again. This time he denied the goal to Matheus Reis, who, with his head, met Trincão’s free kick.
As there are no two without three, Charles again avoided the goal of the lions’ tranquility. Morita shot in the small area, after work by Trincão, and Charles saved it for a corner with a brilliant shot.
In added time, Vitória de Guimarães equalized. Cross from Tony Strata, from the right, and deflection from Ndoye, at the far post, to make it 1-1.
Even at the final whistle, Vitória de Guimarães turned the result around. Ndoye with a clear deflection in the heart of the area, after a good move by Saviolo on the left. The turnaround in the scoreboard was done. Sporting can only complain about themselves and Charles, who made a handful of saves, keeping Guimarães alive in the match.
Vitória de Guimarães is now waiting to find out who they will face in the final. Benfica or Sporting de Braga who face each other on Wednesday.
