Benfica primed for Porto

SL Benfica will play FC Porto in the Portuguese Cup final after defeating CF Os Belenenses 3-1 in the second semi-final tonight.

Jankauskas joy
Porto defeated SC Braga 3-1 in Tuesday's semi-final, with Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas scoring a hat-trick. Benfica last won the cup in 1995, with a victory against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Perfect start
Without influential captain and winger Simão Sabrosa due to flu, Benfica made the perfect start to the match, and led 2-0 inside ten minutes. Croatian striker Tomislav Šokota scored both, playing a one-two with Geovanni in the seventh minute before shooting past Belenenses goalkeeper Marco Aurélio.

Headed second
Two minutes later, Benfica earned a free-kick on the right and Šokota rose highest to head Petit's kick into the net. Petit was taken off shortly before half-time with an injury to his left thigh and is now likely to miss the second leg of Benfica's UEFA Cup fourth-round tie with FC Internazionale and Portugal's friendly with Italy. 

Long-range efforts
Belenenses tried to respond to their early deficit, but the best they could muster were two long shots from winger Verona and left-back Gonçalo Brandão, both of which were saved by Benfica goalkeeper José Moreira.

Tiago third
Benfica added a third goal in the 35th minute, this time through Portuguese international midfield player Tiago, who shot past Marco Aurélio from just outside the area after a clearance by central defender Hélder Rosário had fallen kindly for the midfield player.

Rosário response
Belenenses pulled a goal back five minutes after half-time, Hélder Rosário atoning for his earlier error with a header from a corner, but thereafter never looked like threatening the home side's lead.