FC Porto will play the Taça de Portugal final, in Jamor, against Sporting, thanks to the triumph achieved in the reception to Vitória SC, by 3-1, which followed the other secured in the trip to Guimarães, precisely two weeks ago, by 0-1. The Dragão stadium was the stage for a first half 'unfit for the faint of heart', which began to take shape... in the second minute, when Afonso Freitas took advantage of a total lack of concentration on the part of the opposing defence to break the deadlock, in a move that began with a throw-in from Jota Silva. The blue and whites started with a jolt, but managed to respond, just 23 minutes later. Charles Silva committed a penalty on Francisco Conceição, and Mehdi Taremi did not hesitate, shooting into the back of the net. The 'somersault' on the scoreboard came on the brink of half-time, again with Francisco Conceição in the spotlight. The Portuguese international combined with João Mário and fired a violent shot, which only stopped in the back of the opponents' net. In the second half, the team led by Álvaro Pacheco tried to re-enter the discussion, but saw their hopes 'shattered', at 75 minutes, when Romário Baró, who had just 'jumped' off the bench, assisted Pepê for the 'final blow'. With no mathematical possibilities of fighting for the national championship title, FC Porto marks, in its agenda, May 26 as the last possibility to 'save' the season, with a Classic that is expected to be 'scalding', in Jamor.

Figure

Anyone who doubted the return of Francisco Conceição to Dragão, can 'put the violin in the bag'. With FC Porto 'on fire', the Portuguese under-21 international has been a true 'firefighter on duty'. The forward, just 21 years old, won the penalty that led to the equalising goal, at 25 minutes, and scored himself, on the brink of the whistle for half-time, to calm the spirits.

Surprise

Starting for the first time in the calendar year of 2024, Mehdi Taremi may already have everything closed with Internazionale, for next season, but remains committed to making a difference, at FC Porto. After scoring the goal that prevented the defeat with Famalicão at the weekend, this time he scored, in the conversion of a penalty, the one that freed the team from greater 'tightness'.

Disappointment

Unfortunate performance by Toni Borevkovic, starting with the ridiculous yellow card he deserved, when, at 23 minutes, without the slightest discretion, he tried to damage the penalty mark, before Mehdi Taremi's goal. At 45+5 minutes, he was again in evidence, negatively, by giving all the time and space in the world to Francisco Conceição so that he could complete the turnaround on the scoreboard.

Coaches

Sérgio Conceição: It is an FC Porto with more heart than head that is presenting itself on the field, in this final stretch of the season. The team found themselves at a disadvantage, right at the start, and only with individual flashes, especially from Francisco Conceição, did they manage to create danger. It is becoming increasingly clear that something will have to change, if the goal is still to 'save' the honour, in 2024/25.

Álvaro Pacheco: Vitória SC showed up at Dragão with their lesson well studied, trying to safeguard themselves from FC Porto's main strengths, while watching for one or another transition. In the few times they managed to go on the attack, the Guimarães team did so with danger, so much so that Nélson Oliveira could even have made it 2-2, on the brink of the whistle for half-time.

Referee

From 'disaster' to 'disaster'... how far? Artur Soares Dias had already left much to be desired, in Sporting-Benfica, and, in Dragão, he was once again not up to the task. He showed the first yellow card, at 16 minutes, to Tiago Silva, for a hard foul on Pepê. Just two minutes later, the midfielder prevaricated again, but, this time, the card stayed in his pocket. At 21 minutes, Francisco Conceição kicked Nélson Oliveira, but there was no disciplinary action. And, at 23, the FC Porto forward was brought down by Charles Silva, in a penalty that everyone saw... except the referee, who had to resort to VAR to realise that he had to mark a foul. From then on, the scenario did not improve, so he ended up being one of the 'least' figures in this game.

Leia Também: "Não estivemos à altura do FC Porto, mas podemos ganhar a Taça" (Portuguese version)