Decision Day: Sporting, Guimaraes and Benfica vie for Champions League

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11 May 2008

Decision Day: Sporting, Guimaraes and Benfica vie for Champions League

Live commentary of decisive action in last day of the season

Welcome to live text commentary of three matches being played simultaneously that will decide who joins FC Porto in representing Portugal in next season’s Champions League.

Sporting start of in pole position, needing a point at home to Boavista to guarantee second place and automatic qualification for Europe’s premier club competition.

Guimaraes are currently in third place, which will put them into the final qualifying round in August to try and reach the competition proper. The northerners host Estrela da Amadora and are hoping Sporting slip up. Benfica can still finish in 2nd or 3rd if they beat Setubal and their rivals lose.

Follow all the action minute by minute. Kick-off at 8.15 pm Lisbon time.

This page automatically updates every 90 seconds

Text Commentary: Final Decision Sunday

90::
Final whistle goes in all three stadiums. After early excitement all three candidates for Champions League football managed pretty straight-forward victories. Sporting are in the Champions Leagues, Guimaraes will play the final qualifying round to reach the competittion proper. Benfica will play in the Uefa Cup.

Final results:

Benfica 3-0 Setubal

Sporting 2-1 Boavista

Guimaraes 4-0 Estrela da Amadora

2nd Sporting, 3rd Guimaraes, 4th Benfica
88:: Wonderful atmosphere at all three stadiums. Sporting fans are celebrating direct entry into the Champions League. Guimaraes supporters are celebrating entry in the final qualifying round in August. The Benfica faithful are giving Rui Costa a send-off to remember.
87:: Goal for Benfica!!! At last Nuno Gomes gets on the scoresheet. No prizes for guessing who he dedicates his goal to...
85:: Huge ovation at the Estadio da Luz for RUI COSTA. The Portuguese legend is substituted to recieve a standing ovation from over 50,000 at the Estadio da Luz. The midfielder is congratulated by each and every player on the pitch. A glorious career comes to an end.
83:: Goal for Guimaraes!!! Desmarets smashes in a wonderful curling effort inside the post to add to the party in Guimaraes.
75:: At Alvalade Particio saves Sporting with a good reaction save from Matheus' close-range effort.
73:: At the Luz Benfica also close to scoring a third. Nuno Gomes misses two good chances with Eduardo doing well to keep out the Portugal striker's efforts.
72::
Current situation:

Benfica 2-0 Setubal

Sporting 2-1 Boavista

Guimaraes 3-0 Estrela da Amadora

2nd Sporting, 3rd Guimaraes, 4th Benfica
70:: Goal for Guimaraes!!! Andezinho swings in a long cross that flies directly into the net. Guimaraes 3-0 Estrela da Amadora.
67:: A Mexican wave goes round the Dom Afonso Henriques stadium. Guimaraes fans are in dreamland. Barring any dramatic events in the final twenty minutes it appears the three teams will finish where they started the afternoon.
65:: Goal for Guimaraes!!! Alan knocks in a cross from Farjado with his belly. The hosts are close to making history and playing in next year's Champions League. Guimaraes 2-0 Estrela da Amadora.
63:: Guimaraes are showing their nerves... A bad mistake by Tiago Gomes lets in Mendonca but the striker hits his effort embarrisingly wide.
60:: Boavista close to an equaliser! Matheus goes on a stong run down the right flank and his low cross is pushed out by Patricio where Laionel pounces on the loose ball but incredibly hits his effort wide.
54:: At the Luz Benfica are continuing to dominate their opponents. As ever, Rui Costa is at the heart of everything positive the hosts do, forcing Eduardo into a sharp stop.
52:: Great skill by Izmailov creates himself a metre of space in the box. The Russian shoots but it's straight at the Boavista keeper who saves easily. One minute later Veloso fires in a venemous shot after a good build-up, which forces the Liechteinstein goalkeeper into an excellent save to tip the ball over the bar.
50:: Quiet start to the second half at all three matches. Guimaraes and Sporting are content to keep things tight to guarantee their places in next year's Champions League.
45::
At the Luz Nelson is stetchered off with what looks like a serious injury for the Benfica right-back.
Half time whistle goes at all three grounds:

Current situation:

Benfica 2-0 Setubal

Sporting 2-1 Boavista

Guimaraes 1-0 Estrela da Amadora

2nd Sporting, 3rd Guimaraes, 4th Benfica
44:: At Guimaraes Desmarets is inches away from doubling the home team's lead.
42:: At Alvalade Vukcevic misses horribly for Sporting from point-blank range, shinning his effort over the bar.
40:: Goal for Benfica!!! Oscar Cardozo fires in a superb goal with his lethal left foot. Unstoppable. Benfica 2-0 Setubal.
38:: The goal for Guimaraes sees Benfica slip down to fourth place in the table again. But the Eagles are playing well and Nuno Gomes almost scores a second with a header.
36::
Goal for Guimaraes!!! Flavio Meireles dives bravely to head into the net to the delight of 28,000 ecstatic fans at the Dom Afonso Henriques stadium. Guimaraes 1-0 Estrela da Amadora.
31:: Rui Costa, playing his last game, goes close for Benfica with a typically dangerous shot from outside the box. The ball flies narrowly wide.
30::
Current situation:
Benfica 1-0 Setubal

Sporting 2-1 Boavista

Guimaraes 0-0 Estrela da Amadora

2nd: Sporting, 3rd Benfica, 4th Guimaraes
29:: A nervy Guimaraes are finding it hard to break down a resolute Estrela da Amadora defence. And at the moment the Manueal Cajuda's team have slipped out of the Champions League places.
25:: Goal for Benfica!!! Katsouranis heads into the net to give the Eagles a deserved lead. Benfica 1-0 Setubal.
24:: Benfica see goal ruled out for offside. Nuno Gomes puts the ball in the net but the linesman's flag is raised.
23:: Goal for Sporting!!! A magnificent build-up sees Vukcevic cross for Izmailov who cushions the ball for Tiui. The Brazilian strikes a first-time volley sweetly into the corner of the net. Sporting 2-1 Boavista.
20:: Sporting's defence wobble again. A mix-up between Tonel and Rui Patricio almost lets in Hussaine but the ball loops just wide of the post.
15:: Rui Costa is starting to stamp his influence on the game at the Estadio da Luz. Two sumptuous crosses almost result in the first goal of the game.
11:: At the Estadio da Luz Benfica have started well against a defensive-minded Setubal. Leo, not the tallest man on the pitch, has come close twice with headers.
10:: Goal for Sporting. Romagnoli confidently dispatches the spot kick past Peter Jehle to equalise for Sporting.
9:: Penalty for Sporting! Luis Loureiro brings down Tiui and the referee has no doubts pointing to the spot.
4::
Current situation:

Benfica 0-0 Setubal

Sporting 0-1 Boavista

Guimaraes 0-0 Estrela da Amadora

2nd Sporting, 3rd Guimaraes, 4th Benfica
3::
Superb work by Jorge Ribeiro led to the goal - a player who next year will be playing at Benfica. In the Champions League?
2:: Goal for Boavista!!! Disastrous start for Sporting. Swift break on the left ends with Ivan firing the ball past Patricio, after Polga slips.
0::
It’s an overcast day throughout Portugal, but which of the Sporting, Guimaraes or Benfica fans will be getting that soggy feeling in two hours’ time?

The matches are about to get underway and for two of the biggest names in Portuguese football it’s an especially significant day.

Rui Costa – one or Portugal’s greatest ever players – brings the curtain down on a magnificent career tonight. Despite Benfica’s poor season, the Maestro has kept up his performance level and has been considered the Eagles’ best player game after game this season.

At the other end of the age spectrum Sporting’s Miguel Veloso is 22 years old today. The classy midfielder – who many believe is set for as glittering a career as Costa – will be hoping to celebrate the occasion by rubber-stamping Sporting’s ticket into next year’s Champions League.

Looking northwards, Manuel Cajuda will be doing his utmost to ensure his team, who have been in the top three for months, stay there as he strives to finish above at least one of the teams from the capital.

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