2008–09 Taça da Liga

2008–09 Taça da Liga

Tournament details
Host country	Portugal
Dates	2 August 2008 – 21 March 2009
Teams	32
Final positions
Champions	Benfica (1st title)
Runners-up	Sporting CP
Tournament statistics
Matches played	53
Goals scored	124 (2.34 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Liédson (4)

The 2008–09 Taça da Liga was the second edition of the Taça da Liga, also known as Carlsberg Cup due to sponsorship reasons. The first matches were played on August 2, 2008, and the final was held on March 21, 2009, at the Estádio Algarve in Faro. Present for the second time in the final of this competition, Sporting were once again defeated 3–2 on penalties, this time by their rivals S.L. Benfica.

Format

After the first season, a change in the format was approved by the Portuguese League for Professional Football.^[1] The Cup began with a two-legged round between teams from Liga de Honra (2nd level). Winners were joined by the clubs classified 7th–14th from last season's Portuguese Liga (1st level) plus 2 promoted to this season's Liga. There were 6 groups of 3 teams each, and every team played 2 games (once home and once away). Winners of the groups joined the top-6 teams from the last season's Portuguese Liga and there were 3 groups of 4 teams, each team playing 3 games. Winners of the groups and the best second-placed team competed in the one-legged semifinals, with the winners advancing to the final.

Participating clubs

This is a list of clubs participating in the 2008–09 Portuguese League Cup:

• Clubs starting from the First Round: Boavista (excluded),^[2] União de Leiria, Vizela, Gil Vicente, Olhanense, Beira-Mar, Estoril-Praia, Desportivo das Aves, Varzim, Santa Clara, Portimonense, Gondomar, Freamunde, Feirense, UD Oliveirense, Sporting da Covilhã
• Clubs starting from the Second Round: Sporting de Braga, Belenenses, Nacional, Naval, Académica, Estrela da Amadora, Leixões, Paços de Ferreira, Trofense, Rio Ave
• Clubs starting from the Third Round: Porto, Sporting, Vitória de Guimarães, Benfica, Marítimo, Vitória de Setúbal

First round

The matches were played on August 2 (first legs) and August 9 and 10, 2008 (second legs).

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Feirense	1–2	Vizela	1–2	0–0
Santa Clara	1–2	Olhanense	0–0	1–2
Estoril	2–1	U.D. Oliveirense	1–0	1–1
Varzim	0–1	União de Leiria	0–0	0–1
Sporting da Covilhã	w/o	Boavista[2]	/	/
Freamunde	3–3 (p. 4–2)	Desportivo das Aves	3–1	0–2
Portimonense	1–4	Gil Vicente	0–2	1–2
Gondomar	3–3 (p. 5–4)	Beira-Mar	3–1	0–2

Second round

The matches were played from August 16 to November 5, 2008.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Rio Ave 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6 2 Sporting de Braga 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3 3 Leixões 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5 0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away BRA LEI RAV Braga 4–0 Leixões 1–2 Rio Ave 1–0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Belenenses 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4 2 Gil Vicente 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 3 Sporting da Covilhã 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away BEL GVI SCO Belenenses 0–0 Gil Vicente 0–1 Sporting da Covilhã 1–2 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Paços de Ferreira 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6 2 Estrela da Amadora 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 3 3 Vizela 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5 0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away EST PAÇ VIZ Estrela da Amadora 4–1 Paços de Ferreira 2–1 Vizela 0–2 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Nacional 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 2 União de Leiria 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 3 Trofense 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away NAC TRO ULE Nacional 2–0 Trofense 1–0 União de Leiria 1–0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Olhanense 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3 2 Estoril-Praia 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 3 Naval 1º de Maio 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1 3 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away ESP NAV OLH Estoril Praia 2–1 Naval 1º de Maio 3–2 Olhanense 2–0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Académica 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 2 Gondomar 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3 3 Freamunde 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away ACA FRM GND Académica 1–1 Freamunde 0–1 Gondomar 0–2 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third round

The matches were played from December 14, 2008 to January 18, 2009.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Porto 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6 2 Nacional 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4 Académica 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4 4 Vitória de Setúbal 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away ACA NAC POR VSE Académica 1–1 Nacional 2–1 Porto 1–0 2–1 Vitória de Setúbal 1–2 1–0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Sporting CP 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 2 Rio Ave 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3 3 Marítimo 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3 4 Paços de Ferreira 3 1 0 2 4 8 −4 3 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away MAR PAÇ RAV SCP Marítimo 2–1 1–2 Paços de Ferreira 2–1 Rio Ave 0–1 Sporting CP 3–0 5–1 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Benfica 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 2 Vitória de Guimarães 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4 3 Belenenses 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4 4 Olhanense 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round. Only applicable when the season is not finished: (Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Home ╲ Away BEL BEN OLH VGU Belenenses 0–0 Benfica 1–0 4–1 Olhanense 0–2 Vitória de Guimarães 0–2 3–0 Source: lpfp.pt (Portuguese) 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Semifinals

The Semifinals were held as one-legged matches with the two teams that had the highest amount of points in the Third Round being given the home ground advantage.^[3] The draw was held at the LPFP headquarters on 20 January 2009, 12:30 UTC. The matches were played on 4 February 2009.^[4]

Benfica v Vitória de Guimarães

2009-02-04 21:15 UTC

Benfica	2 – 1	Vitória de Guimarães
Arnolin  69' (o.g.) Aimar  87'		Desmarets  89'

Estádio da Luz, Lisbon Referee: Artur Soares Dias

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Sporting CP v Porto

2009-02-04 19:00 UTC

Sporting CP	4 – 1	Porto
Romagnoli  35' (pen.), 48' (pen.) Derlei  65', 80'		Sektioui  9'

Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon Referee: Carlos Xistra

Final

Sporting CP v Benfica

2009-03-21 19:45 UTC

Sporting CP	1 – 1 (a.e.t.)	Benfica
Pereirinha  48'		Reyes  75' (pen.)
	Penalties
Romagnoli Rochemback Moutinho Derlei Postiga	2 – 3	Aimar Cardozo Katsouranis David Luiz C. Martins

Estádio Algarve, Faro Referee: Lucílio Baptista

External links

• Official page (Portuguese)

References

1. Carlsberg Cup vai ter novo modelo: competição terá 55 jogos (Portuguese)
2. Boavista were excluded from the League Cup due to missing players' inscription deadline: Clube excluído da Taça da Liga Archived August 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. (Portuguese)
3. Regulamento de Competições (Portuguese)
4. Apurados para as meias-finais (Portuguese)