SL Benfica vs Belenenses [R] Portuguese Cup semi-finals

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game to be played on March 17 a Wednesday,





Meias-finais da Taça: Braga-Porto e Benfica-Belenenses



O sorteio das meias-finais da Taça de Portugal em futebol realizado às 15 horas de hoje em Lisboa proporcionou dois jogos equilibrados.


O detentor do troféu, FC Porto, viaja até Braga onde vai defrontar no novo estádio municipal da cidade dos arcebispos a formação de Jesualdo Ferreira.

Por sua vez, e na outra meia-final, o Benfica recebe no Estádio da Luz o Belenenses, partida que se vê equilibrada como por norma acontece em «derbys» lisboetas.

Ambos os jogos estão marcados para 17 de Março, uma quarta-feira, embora se admita alteração para permitir uma possível transmissão televisiva.




Benfica saved some of its players for the Wednesday game.. a very important game for Benfica, reaching the final is the goal

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SL Benfica 3-0 Os Belenenses

35' -- golo do Tiago

This is indeed shaping up to be just what they need before the Inter game--a big win that allows them to get into flow of scoring lots of goals.


Sokota scored in the 7th and 9th minutes.

Half time right now

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LISBON, March 17 (Reuters) - Croatian striker Tomislav Sokota scored twice in two minutes to help Benfica reach the Portuguese Cup final with a 3-1 win over Belenenses on Wednesday.

Benfica will meet Cup holders and reigning league champions Porto in the final on May 16 at the National Stadium in Lisbon. Porto beat Braga 3-1 on Tuesday in the other semi-final.

Sokota opened the scoring after eight minutes with a shot inside the box from a left-wing cross by Brazilian midfielder Geovanni and added his second almost immediately, heading in from Armando Petit's free kick.


Tiago Mendes made it 3-0 with a powerful shot from just outside the area 10 minutes before the break.

Belenenses pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half with a Helder Rosario header but Benfica held on comfortably for the win.

There was some bad news for Benfica, though, as Petit suffered a thigh injury that the club's deputy coach said would keep him out of their UEFA Cup fourth round, second-leg clash with Inter Milan at the San Siro on Thursday March 25.

The first leg in Lisbon finished goalless.