2009 Taça da Liga final

Sporting CP were appearing in their second final after losing the previous edition's final to Vitória de Setúbal. Benfica were appearing in their very first Taça da Liga final. This final marked the first time that two teams of the Big three would face each other, in a Taça da Liga final.

The last meeting between these two sides prior to the final was a league match, which took place on the 21 February. Sporting defeated Benfica 3–2 at the Estádio José Alvalade.{{cite web|title=Liga Sagres 2008/2009|url=https://www.thefinalball.com/jogo.php?id=468683|work=ZeroZero|access-date=21 February 2009|date=6 December 2012|language=pt}} The last meeting between these two sides in a cup competition saw Sporting defeat Benfica, 5–3 in the semi-final of the 2007–08 Taça de Portugal.{{cite web|title=Sporting 5-3 Benfica|url=https://www.thefinalball.com/jogo.php?id=333518|work=ZeroZero|access-date=16 April 2008|date=6 December 2012|language=pt}}

{{further|2008–09 Taça da Liga}}

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=3|Sporting CP !Round !colspan=3|Benfica
style="background:#c1e0ff" |Opponent |Result |Stadium |rowspan=2|First round |Opponent |Result |Stadium
colspan=3|Bye |colspan=3|Bye
style="background:#c1e0ff" |Opponent |Result |Stadium |rowspan=2|Second round |Opponent |Result |Stadium
colspan=3|Bye |colspan=3|Bye
style="background:#c1e0ff" |Opponent |Result |Stadium |Third round |Opponent |Result |Stadium
Marítimo |3–0 (H) |Estádio de Alvalade | style="background:#c1e0ff"|Matchday 1 |Vitória de Guimarães |2–0 (A) |Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
Rio Ave |1–0 (A) |Estádio dos Arcos | style="background:#c1e0ff"|Matchday 2 |Olhanense |4–1 (H) |Estádio da Luz
Paços de Ferreira |5–1 (H) |Estádio de Alvalade | style="background:#c1e0ff"|Matchday 3 |Belenenses |1–0 (H) |Estádio da Luz
colspan=3 valign=top|Group B winners {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
width=175 |Team !width=20 |{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| W | Won}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| D | Drawn}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| L | Lost}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GF | Goals for}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GA | Goals against}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GD | Goal difference}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| Pts | Points}}
style="background:#cfc" |align="left"|Sporting CP |3	3	0	0	9	1	+8	9
align="left"|Rio Ave |3	1	0	2	3	4	−1	3
align="left"|Marítimo |3	1	0	2	3	6	−3	3
align="left"|Paços de Ferreira |3	0	0	3	4	8	−4	3

| style="background:#c1e0ff"|Final standings

|colspan=3 valign=top|Group C winners

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
width=175 |Team !width=20 |{{Tooltip| Pld | Played}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| W | Won}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| D | Drawn}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| L | Lost}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GF | Goals for}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GA | Goals against}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| GD | Goal difference}} !width=20 |{{Tooltip| Pts | Points}}
style="background:#cfc" |align="left"|Benfica |3	3	0	0	7	1	+6	9
style="background:#cfc" |align="left"|Vitória de Guimarães |3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
align="left"|Belenenses |3	1	1	1	2	1	+1	4
align="left"|Olhanense |3	0	0	3	1	9	−8	0

|- style="background:#c1e0ff"

|Opponent

|Result

|Stadium

|Knockout phase

|Opponent

|Result

|Stadium

|-

|Porto

|4–1 (H)

|Estádio de Alvalade

| style="background:#c1e0ff"|Semi-finals

|Vitória de Guimarães

|2–1 (H)

|Estádio da Luz

|}

Both clubs entered the 2009 Taça da Liga Final with players missing due to injury. Sporting CP were missing midfielder Marat Izmailov due to tendinitis in his right knee, as well as left back Leandro Grimi, who was undergoing an operation to his left knee.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390908|title=Izmailov fora da Taça da Liga|trans-title=Izmailov out of the League Cup|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=20 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}} Benfica entered the final missing goalkeeper Marcelo Moretto, Quique Sánchez Flores' first-choice goalkeeper in the 2008–09 Taça da Liga. Moretto missed the final due to undergoing arthroscopic surgery to his right knee after he sustained an injury during a Benfica training session.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390063|title=Moretto operado|trans-title=Moretto operated|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=12 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}} Both sides going into the match, saw players who were doubtful for the final. Sporting's Hélder Postiga was a doubt for the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390262|title=Postiga só na final da Taça da Liga|trans-title=Postiga only in the League Cup final|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=12 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}} Benfica's Ruben Amorim was also a doubt for the final after sustaining an injury in a league match, while Carlos Martins and David Suazo were also doubts. These three players would train apart from the rest of the squad in order to be match fit for the final during the week building up to the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390690|title=Ruben Amorim realiza treino livre|trans-title=Ruben Amorim realizes free training|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=18 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}}

Paulo Bento's squad selection for the final saw the presence of Hélder Postiga and Leandro Romagnoli who were doubtful going into the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390931|title=Postiga e Romagnoli de regresso|trans-title=Postiga and Romagnoli return|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=20 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}} Paulo Bento's starting eleven saw him start with veteran goalkeeper Tiago ahead of Rui Patrício. Due to Leandro Grimi's injury, Pedro Silva would replace him in the left back position. Quique Sánchez Flores' squad selection for the final saw the inclusion of Carlos Martins, David Suazo and Ruben Amorim who were doubtful prior to the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=390929|title=Suazo e Martins convocados|trans-title=Suazo and Martins selected|publisher=Record|language=pt|date=20 March 2009|access-date=3 December 2012}} Sánchez Flores' starting eleven saw him start Amorim and Suazo. Veteran goalkeeper Quim was selected ahead of José Moreira. Sánchez Flores also selected Miguel Vítor ahead of first-team regular Sidnei in the starting lineup.

Benfica dominated possession early on and created several chances. The first major chance of the game saw a Benfica counterattack, saw Pablo Aimar brake into Sporting's final third and thread a ball to an unmarked Nuno Gomes who couldn't slot the ball past Tiago. Sporting's most dangerous chance of the first half, saw Simon Vukčević lob the ball over the Benfica defense where he found an unmarked Liédson, who went past Benfica's goalkeeper and fired into the goal at an acute angle but saw his shot blocked on the goal line by David Luiz. The first half would end goalless.

Following the break, Sporting started the second half stronger and scored the first goal of the game. Clever interplay between Simon Vukčević and Marco Caneira down the left hand side saw Caneira cross the ball into the box where Liédson's header hit the crossbar and on the follow-up, Bruno Pereirinha slotted the ball past Quim. Following Sporting's goal, its lead could have been doubled but for Quim's save after Fábio Rochemback's corner found Ânderson Polga. Benfica came close to an equalizer following Sporting's most dominant period of the game after José Antonio Reyes' free kick found Luisão whose header hit the crossbar.

Fifteen minutes from the end, Ángel Di María's run would result in Benfica being awarded a penalty after Pedro Silva handled the ball in the box when trying to challenge Di María. Replays showed that the ball hit Silva on the chest. Sporting's Pedro Silva would receive a second yellow card, which resulted in Sporting being a man down. José Antonio Reyes would convert the penalty and slot the ball past Tiago. The game ended in a tie after ninety minutes and was to be settled on penalties. In the penalty shootout after each side had taken three penalties each, Sporting were 2–1 up. The next two penalties which each side took proved to be vital to who would win the cup. Sporting's Derlei and Hélder Postiga missed their penalties, while David Luiz and Carlos Martins converted the penalties to clinch Benfica's first Taça da Liga.

{{football box

|date=21 March 2009

|time=19:45 BST

|team1=Sporting CP

|score=1–1

|report=[https://www.thefinalball.com/jogo.php?id=692532 Report]

|team2=Benfica

|goals1=Pereirinha {{goal|48}}

|goals2=Reyes {{goal|75|pen.}}

|stadium=Estádio do Algarve, Faro

|attendance=28,182

|referee=Lucílio Baptista

|penalties1 = Romagnoli {{pengoal}}
Rochemback {{penmiss}}
Moutinho {{pengoal}}
Derlei {{penmiss}}
Postiga {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore = 2–3

|penalties2 = {{penmiss}} Aimar
{{pengoal}} Cardozo
{{penmiss}} Katsouranis
{{pengoal}} David Luiz
{{pengoal}} Martins

}}

width=92% |

{{Football kit |pattern_b = _sporting0809h |pattern_ra = _sporting0809h |pattern_la = _sporting0809h | leftarm = FF0000 | body = FF0000 | rightarm = FF0000 | shorts = 000000 | socks = _sporting0809h | title = Sporting }} |{{Football kit |pattern_b = _benfica0809home |pattern_ra = _benfica0809h |pattern_la = _benfica0809h |pattern_sh = _benfica0809h |pattern_so = _3_stripes_white | leftarm = FF0000 | body = FF0000 | rightarm = FF0000 | shorts = FFFFFF | socks = FF0000 | title = Benfica }}

width="100%" |valign="top" width="50%"| {| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" |colspan="4"|Sporting:
width=25|	width=25|
GK	16	{{flagicon|POR}} Tiago
RB	12	{{flagicon|POR}} Marco Caneira
CB	3	{{flagicon|POR}} Daniel Carriço
CB	4	{{flagicon|BRA}} Ânderson Polga	{{yel|62}}
LB	5	{{flagicon|BRA}} Pedro Silva	{{sent off|2|23|73}}
DM	26	{{flagicon|BRA}} Fábio Rochemback
LM	10	{{flagicon|Montenegro}} Simon Vukčević		{{suboff|76}}
OM	28	{{flagicon|POR}} João Moutinho (c)	{{yel|72}}
RM	25	{{flagicon|POR}} Bruno Pereirinha		{{suboff|90}}
CF	11	{{flagicon|BRA}} Derlei
CF	31	{{flagicon|BRA}} Liédson		{{suboff|90}}
colspan=3|Substitutes:
GK	1	{{flagicon|POR}} Rui Patrício
DF	13	{{flagicon|POR}} Tonel
RB	78	{{flagicon|POR}} Abel		{{subon|76}}
MD	6	{{flagicon|POR}} Adrien Silva
OM	30	{{flagicon|ARG}} Leandro Romagnoli		{{subon|90}}
FW	20	{{flagicon|POR}} Yannick Djaló
FW	23	{{flagicon|POR}} Hélder Postiga		{{subon|90}}
colspan=3|Manager:
colspan=4|{{flagicon|POR}} Paulo Bento

|valign="top" width="50%"|

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center |colspan="4"|Benfica:
width=25|	width=25|
GK	12	{{flagicon|POR}} Quim
RB	13	{{flagicon|URU}} Maxi Pereira	{{yel|39}}
CB	4	{{flagicon|BRA}} Luisão
CB	28	{{flagicon|POR}} Miguel Vítor	{{yel|68}}
LB	23	{{flagicon|BRA}} David Luiz
DM	8	{{flagicon|GRE}} Kostas Katsouranis
RM	15	{{flagicon|POR}} Ruben Amorim		{{suboff|79}}
OM	10	{{flagicon|ARG}} Pablo Aimar
LM	6	{{flagicon|ESP}} José Antonio Reyes	{{yel|40}}	{{suboff|88}}
FW	30	{{flagicon|HON}} David Suazo
FW	21	{{flagicon|POR}} Nuno Gomes (c)		{{suboff|64}}
colspan=3|Substitutes:
GK	1	{{flagicon|POR}} José Moreira
LB	25	{{flagicon|POR}} Jorge Ribeiro
DF	27	{{flagicon|BRA}} Sidnei
MF	26	{{flagicon|ALG}} Hassan Yebda
OM	24	{{flagicon|POR}} Carlos Martins		{{subon|79}}
RM	20	{{flagicon|ARG}} Ángel Di María		{{subon|64}}
FW	7	{{flagicon|PAR}} Óscar Cardozo		{{subon|88}}
colspan=3|Manager:
colspan=4|{{flagicon|ESP}} Quique Sánchez Flores

|}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; width: 20%"
2008–09 Taça da Liga Winners
S.L. Benfica 1st Title

style="width:100%; font-size:90%"

style="width:50%; vertical-align:top"| ;Man of the match {{flagicon|POR}} Quim (Benfica) ;Match officials Assistant referees: Pais António (Setúbal) José Cardinal (Porto) Fourth official: Artur Soares Dias (Porto) | style="width:50%; vertical-align:top"| ;Match rules 90 minutes Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Maximum of three substitutions

{{reflist}}

{{Taça da Liga}}

{{Sporting CP matches}}

{{S.L. Benfica matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taca Da Liga Final 2009}}

2009

Taca da Liga

Category:Sporting CP matches

Category:S.L. Benfica matches