Guimarães beat Benfica to win Portuguese Cup

Vitória SC have won the Portuguese Cup for the first time in the 73rd edition of the competition after beating SL Benfica 2-1 in the final at the Estádio Nacional.

Benfica began the game desperate for silverware after losing the UEFA Europa League final and finishing behind FC Porto in the league, and they went ahead through fortunate circumstances on the half-hour. Attempting to clear, Vitória defender Kanu fired the ball against Nicolás Gaitán and it trickled slowly into the net. That was the standout moment of a first half in which Benfica's Ezequiel Garay forced a good save from Douglas and David Addy fired into the side netting at the other end.

Everything changed after the break, however. Benfica continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession, but there was little pace or penetration to their play and Guimarães turned things around in the space of two minutes. First, El Arbi Hillel Soudani escaped the Eagles' defence and beat Artur to level the scores on 79 minutes, and Ricardo Pereira then added a second when his cross deflected in off Luisão.

"We always believed that we could do it," commented Guimarães coach Rui Vitória. "I must congratulate my players; they have lots of talent and it is a great day for this club and this fantastic city."