 |
 |
 |
| Sunday, 04 December 2011 21:33 |
Taca round-up: shoot-outs galoreLast eight almost set The 2011/12 edition of the Taca de Portugal continued to entertain this weekend, with all five 5th round ties played on Saturday and Sunday requiring extra time, and three of those going down to penalty kicks.
Estoril 2-2 Olhanense (Olhanense win 4-2 on penalties)Having not beaten their fellow coastal club in the last five meetings between the two sides, Olhanense will not have travelled north on Saturday night with any great optimism, and when Joao Coimbra gave Estoril the lead after just sixteen minutes, it seemed as if Dauto Faquira’s men were to become the latest Liga outfit to bow out of an upset-strewn Taca.However, a Rui Duarte penalty in the dying moments of the second half forced the tie into extra time, and when Yontcha managed to hook a shot over Vagner’s despairing dive after 112 minutes, Olhanense looked set to progress.  Another last-minute goal, this time a looping header from Steven Vitoria, levelled the scores, but Estoril were unable to keep their composure, missing three of their five penalties to hand Olhanense a hard-fought victory. Faquira expressed his delight at progressing to the last eight, but admitted that ‘we suffered a lot.’Leixoes 2-5 Academica (AET)After a cagey opening 35 minutes that saw neither side carve out any real opportunities, a lapse in judgement from Leixoes goalkeeper Vincent Degre gifted Academica the lead. The Frenchman positioned himself poorly for Adrien Silva’s free kick, which sailed over everyone and into the back of the net.The Briosa’s lead barely lasted two minutes. Moises scampered down the left wing, and the onrushing Jumisse, who was poorly marked by both Berger and Helder Cabral, nodded his delicate cross beyond Ricardo.  The second half unfolded in near-identical fashion to the first, and it soon became clear that a set piece of some sort would be required if a breakthrough was to be found. With 25 minutes left, it arrived in the form of Helder Cabral’s clumsy challenge on Luis Silva inside the Academica box. Paulo Tavares slotted home from the penalty spot, and Leixoes proceeded to dig in for the remainder of the match. With six minutes left, and after a maelstrom of Academica pressure, their resistance finally broke. A lofted ball in was poorly dealt with, and Eder’s flick on fell to substitute Fabio Luis, who stabbed home from close range. The opening eight minutes of extra time were predictably tense, but it was Academica who seemed on the front foot, and the Briosa capitalised on this ascension with Adrien’s deflected volley from the edge of the box, after Leixoes failed to clear a corner.  Three minutes later, Fabio Luis delivered the knockout blow, meeting Diogo Valente’s cross after a rapid counter-attack. That proved the decisive moment, as Pedro Emanuel’s side, without a Liga win since September but in top Taca form, secured their place in the last eight. Eder added a fifth late on, lashing home from inside the box with Leixoes deflated. Full results: Moreirense 2-1 Torreense Maritimo 2-1 Benfica Estoril 2-2 Olhanense (Olhanense win 4-2 on penalties) Mirandela 1-1 Oliveirense (Oliveirense win 4-3 on penalties) Tirsense 0-0 Nacional (Nacional win 4-3 on penalties) Desportivo Aves 2-1 Ribeira Brava (AET) Leixoes 2-5 Academica (AET) The 5th round concludes on Monday evening, with Sporting hosting Belenenses at the Alvalade. The quarter-final draw reads as follows: Belenenses/Sporting - Maritimo Academica - Desportivo Aves Moreirense - Nacional Oliveirense - Olhanense. Ben Shave Add your comment |
