Nacional, from II Liga, qualified for the semi-finals of the Portuguese Football Cup for the fourth time this Thursday, beating first division club Casa Pia 5-2 in extra time, after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
At Estádio do Bonfim, in Setúbal, the Madeirans won the quarter-final 2-0, with a ‘double’ from Luís Esteves, in the 44th and 46th minutes, but the Lisbon team came back to 10 points since the 17th. minute, due to the expulsion of João Nunes, managed to tie the score with goals from Diogo Pinto, on 53, and Rafael Martins, on 80.
In extra time, the ‘geese’ were left with nine players, due to the exclusion of Vasco Fernandes, who committed a penalty, in the 92nd minute, allowing Danilovic to advance the Islanders, in the 94th, ahead of Bruno Gomes, in the 105th. +3, also suspended at maximum, and Gustavo Silva, at 108, set the result at 5-2.
After reaching the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup in 2008/09, 2011/12 and 2014/15, Nacional returns to that phase of the competition, in which, already in two-legged draw, the winner of the today between Sporting de Braga and Benfica.
The other semi-final has already been determined and will face FC Porto, holders of the trophy, against Famalicão, after the ‘dragons’ knocked out Académico de Viseu on Wednesday and the Famalicenses overcame BSAD.
Source: DN
