2011 Taça da Liga final

2011 Taça da Liga final
Event2010–11 Taça da Liga
Date23 April 2011
VenueEstádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra
Man of the MatchJosé Moreira
RefereePedro Proença
Attendance26,222

The 2011 Taça da Liga final was the fourth final of the Taça da Liga tournament in Portugal, a competition involving the top 32 clubs in the Portuguese football league system, the Primeira Liga and the Liga de Honra teams. The final was contested on 23 April 2011 by Benfica and Paços de Ferreira and was played at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra in Coimbra. This was the first time that the final was played at this stadium since the past three editions were at the Estádio Algarve in Faro. This was the third consecutive final appearance for Benfica and the first ever for Paços de Ferreira.

Background

Benfica went into the match as the Taça da Liga title holder, having won the previous two finals, in 2009 and 2010, while this was the first ever Paços de Ferreira appearance in the decisive game. Both teams started at difference stages in the competition — Paços de Ferreira in the second round, as part of the six last teams from the previous Primeira Liga and two promoted teams from last year's Liga de Honra, and Benfica in the third round, comprising the faction of the top eight Primeira Liga teams from the last season. After overcoming Leixões in a two-legged fixture, following an away draw and a home victory, Paços de Ferreira topped Group C, composed by the two Minho rivals, Braga and Vitória de Guimarães, as well as Arouca. Benfica won Group B, which included Marítimo, Desportivo das Aves and Olhanense. The two teams won their respective groups with the perfect score of three victories out of three matches. In the semi-finals, Benfica hosted and won over Lisbon rivals Sporting CP, with a late winner coming in the last moments of stoppage time, after being one goal down during the first half. Paços de Ferreira played at Nacional's stadium and won an entertaining match that ended in a 4–3 result, controlling the scoreline during much part of the second half due to an early two-goal advantage.

Route to the final

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

Paços de Ferreira Round Benfica
Opponent Result Stadium First round Opponent Result Stadium
Bye Bye
Opponent Result Stadium Second round Opponent Result Stadium
Leixões 1–1 (A) Estádio do Mar First leg Bye
2–1 (H) Mata Real Second leg
Opponent Result Stadium Third round Opponent Result Stadium
Arouca 3–2 (A) Estádio Municipal de Arouca Matchday 1 Marítimo 2–0 (H) Estádio da Luz
Braga 3–2 (A) Estádio Municipal de Braga Matchday 2 Olhanense 3–2 (H) Estádio da Luz
Vitória de Guimarães 2–1 (H) Mata Real Matchday 3 Desportivo das Aves 4–0 (A) Estádio do Aves
Group C winners
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Paços de Ferreira 3 3 0 0 8 5 +3 9
Braga 3 2 0 1 9 4 +5 6
Vitória de Guimarães 3 1 0 2 3 5 −2 3
Arouca 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6 0
Final standings Group B winners
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Benfica 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 9
Marítimo 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 6
Desportivo das Aves 3 1 0 2 4 8 −4 3
Olhanense 3 0 0 3 4 7 −3 0
Opponent Result Stadium Knockout phase Opponent Result Stadium
Nacional 4–3 (A) Estádio da Madeira Semi-finals Sporting CP 2–1 (H) Estádio da Luz

Match

Details

Paços de Ferreira1–2Benfica
Luisão 50' (o.g.) Report Jara 17'
García 42'
Paços de Ferreira
Benfica
PAÇOS DE FERREIRA:
GK 1 Cássio  90+2'
RB 15 Baiano
CB 5 Javier Cohene
CB 2 Ozéia
LB 7 Maykon  26'
DM 8 André Leão  79'
CM 16 Leonel Olímpio  33'
CM 10 David Simão  75'
RW 81 Manuel José (c)  71'
LW 31 Pizzi
CF 19 Mario Rondón
Substitutes:
GK 45 António Filipe
LB 13 Bura
RB 96 Filipe Anunciação  79'
CM 11 Rui Caetano  71'
CM 17 Nuno Santos
FW 21 Pádraig Amond
FW 24 Nélson Oliveira  75'
Manager:
Rui Vitória
BENFICA:
GK 1 José Moreira
RB 14 Maxi Pereira  30'
CB 4 Luisão (c)  49'
CB 33 Jardel
LB 18 Fábio Coentrão
DM 6 Javi García
RM 17 Carlos Martins  61'
LM 11 Franco Jara
CM 10 Pablo Aimar  90+2'
FW 30 Javier Saviola  68'
FW 7 Óscar Cardozo
Substitutes:
GK 12 Roberto
LB 25 César Peixoto  61'
CB 27 Sidnei
DM 2 Airton  68'
CM 16 Felipe Menezes  90+2'
FW 19 Weldon
FW 31 Alan Kardec
Manager:
Jorge Jesus
2010–11 Taça da Liga Winners
Benfica
3rd Title

See also