BOLA – Sporting beats Benfica and is in the final of the Portuguese Cup (Handball)

Sporting joins FC Porto in the final of the Portuguese Cup, scheduled for this Sunday, at the Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos. In the second semi-final of the ‘final four’, the club from Alvalade beat Benfica by 33-30.

A seven-goal lead at half-time (18-11), after a dominating first half, due to defensive performance and goalkeeper Manuel Gaspar, allowed Sporting to withstand Benfica’s strong entry in the last 30 minutes. In this period, the red club balanced the derby and scored more goals compared to Sporting, 19 against 15.

However, the recent European League winner, more aggressive defending and better organized attacking after the break, has lost players to two-minute suspensions and red cards – Alexis Borges, Jonas Kallman and Demis Grigoras, the latter two disqualified for accumulation. of suspensions – and would end up outnumbered in the final minutes when trying to equalize.

Sporting brothers Martim and Francisco Costa were the best scorers in the derby, with 11 and eight goals, respectively, followed by seven by Ole Rahmel and six by Petar Djordjic, both from Benfica.

The final is scheduled at 18:00, in Matosinhos. FC Porto is the holder of the trophy, while Sporting has not won since 2014.

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