Vitória 2-1 Braga: Party time in Guimarães as Vitória produce another dramatic comeback to win Taça da Liga | OneFootball

They beat Porto in the quarter-finals. They beat Sporting in semi-finals. Tonight they beat Minho rivals Braga in the final. Every time having conceded the first goal of the match. Vitória Sport Clube are the toast of Guimarães tonight after beating Braga 2-1 to win the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup) for the first time in their history.

Braga went into the break leading thanks to a Mario Dorgeles free kick. Vitória equalised with a Samu penalty shortly before the hour mark, before fellow substitute Alioune Ndoye headed Vitória in front in the 83rd minute.

Braga had a golden opportunity to equalise deep into stoppage time, but Vitória goalkeeper Charles capped a superb display with a spectacular save from Rodrigo Zalazar’s spot kick to send Vitória’s fanatical fan base delirious with delight.

Braga start on top

Vitória’s players looked shaky at the start while Braga played out from the back in a composed manner as they are prone to do. Ricardo Horta had a great chance in the 12th minute, his low left-footed shot well saved by Charles to keep the scores level.

Braga were rewarded for their strong start in the 17th minute. Zalazar won a free kick in a dangerous position and Dorgeles stepped up with a beautifully curled left footed free kick into the top right corner, although Charles maybe could have done better.

The goal further accentuated Braga’s ascendency. Pau Victor almost doubled the lead but some solid defending denied him. Dorgeles then went close in the 25th minute with a half volley.

Vitória come alive

Vitória finally caused a threat of their own in the 33rd minute, João Mendes rifling in a long-range effort that was inches away from levelling the match.

It was a good spell for Vitória and soon afterwards a dangerous free kick from the left side of the pitch resulted in Miguel Nóbrega nearly heading the Guimaraes side level, his effort bouncing agonisingly wide with Lukas Hornicek beaten. Now it appeared to be Vitória that was pilling on the pressure

Charles continued his eventful match by being at the centre of the action again just before half time. The Vitória goalkeeper almost gifted Braga their second goal with a clumsy effort to retrieve a cross, allowing Dorgeles to latch onto the ball from close range. If not for a phenomenal defensive effort from Strata, who remained calm and used his head (literally), Braga could have very well gone into the half with a healthy cushion.

Moutinho goes close

The first big chance of the second half fell to the evergreen João Moutinho after the ball wasn’t properly cleared by Vitória. After fumbling in the box Moutinho lashed a shot that was deflected out for a corner. The resulting corner fell to Moutinho again who volleyed in a well-timed shot that forced an outstretched save by Charles.

The game remained evenly balanced and Vitória were handed a lifeline in the 57th minute after Victor Carvalho was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box after a VAR review.

Substitute Samu took the responsibility of converting from the spot and the substitute slotted into the bottom right of the goal after sending the keeper the wrong way.

Game swings in Vitória’s favour

The penalty seemed to wake up Vitória’s players and their supporters. With a tremendous atmosphere and the followers of the Guimarães club making such a din it seemed we were in the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques and not in Leiria, Vitória duly responded. In the 63rd minute Strata gambled from distance but his curling shot cruised over the bar.

The Vitória fans though had grown into the game, Luís Pinto’s players drawing energy from the incredible support, and it appeared that all the momentum was on the side of the Guimarães team going into the final stretch.

Nelson Oliviera reacted quickly in the 70th minute, using the outside of his foot to beat goalkeeper Hornicek when the ball fell at his feet in the box, but his effort smacked the crossbar and bounced out. Soon afterwards Oliveira was taken off for Ndoye, who had heroically scored two stoppage-time goals to beat Sporting in Tuesday’s semi-final.

Braga were not done though, Ricardo Horta forcing Charles into an excellent save in the 76th minute.

Ndoye height too much for Braga

Ndoye came on and was quick to make his mark, nearly heading home in the 81st minute after being targeted at the back post from a free kick.

A minute later the beanpole striker connected with a corner once again timing his jump perfectly to get above Gustaf Lagerbielke – no mean feat – and placing his header into the top left-hand corner. A stunning turn of events.

Braga earned a corner in the 85th minute and this time Lagerbielke almost responded with a header of his own, his effort grazing the crossbar and falling behind for a goal kick.

Stoppage time drama

When the referee signalled nine minutes of stoppage time Braga believed they could still find the goal to force a penalty shootout. But it was time for Charles to shine.

In the 94th minute the veteran Brazilian stopper made superb reaction stop from Fran Navarro, blocking the Spaniard’s shot from point-blank range.

But Braga refused to give up and were given a golden opportunity to equalise when João Mendes was penalised for elbowing Víctor Gómez in the box. A second yellow card and subsequent red for Mendes and a penalty to Braga.

Zalazar stepped up, but Charles would have the final say with another brilliant save.

Shortly afterwards the referee the blew the final whistle to send one half of the Minho region into dreamland. A tremendous final proving that quality football and top-class entertainment in Portugal is not restricted to the traditional Big Three.