Ruthless Porto march into Cup final
FC Porto 4-0 Rio Ave (aggregate 7-1)
 Portuguese Cup holders FC Porto will defend their title in the final against Desportivo de Chaves after comfortably seeing off the challenge of Rio Ave tonight. Goals from Belluschi, Guarin, Ruben Micael and Falcao gave the Dragons a comprehensive 4-0 victory on the night and a 7-1 aggregate win.
The two teams came into the match in sharply contrasting form. Rio Ave had lost their previous five matches while Porto were looking to extend a four-game winning run.
After a bright start from Rio Ave, the hosts took the lead from practically their first threat on goal. Ruben Micael won a somewhat fortuitous foul on the edge of the box. Argentine midfielder Belluschi was not complaining as he chipped a sumptuous shot over the wall and past stranded goalkeeper Carlos.
Penalty save
Porto then missed the chance to double their lead as Ricardo Chaves unceremoniously upended Valeri in the box for an obvious penalty. The spot kick was taken by Farias but Carlos produced a fine diving stop.
With little doubt about who would be the victors on the night, the match appeared destined to peter out in a dull finish, but two brilliant late goals stirred the sparse crowd in the Estadio do Dragao.
First Guarin, literally seconds after coming on as a substitute for Fernando, picked up a loose pass from a Rio Ave defender and unleashed a spectacular shot from 25 yards that arrowed straight into the top corner, giving Carlos no chance.
Ruben Micael then produced another unerring finish, drilling his shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after good work by Hulk to make it 3-0. There was still time for Falcao to score his mandatory goal to put the gloss on a thumping win.
The final between FC Porto and Chaves will take place at the Jamor stadium on 16 May.
by Tom Kundert
FC Porto:
Beto, Fucile, Maicon, Bruno Alves, Addy, Belluschi, Fernando (Guarin, 77), Valeri, Ruben Micael, Farias (Falcao, 62), Orlando Sa (Hulk, 62)
Rio Ave:
Carlos, Jose Gomes, Andre Vilas Boas, Fabio Faria, Silvio, Wires, Ricardo Chaves, Adriano (Tarantini, 45), Bruno Gama, Nelson Oliveira, Sidnei (Evandro, 67)
Goals:
[1-0] Belluschi, 19
[2-0] Guarin, 78
[3-0] Ruben Micael, 85
[4-0] Falcao, 92
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