Benfica thrash Porto in League Cup final

(GSM) – Benfica romped to the 2009/10 Portuguese League Cup championship on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over rivals Porto in the final at Faro’s Estádio do Algarve.

Ruben Amorim’s ambitious long drive in the 10th minute was misplayed by Porto goalkeeper Nuno, allowing the ball to squirt into the net for a Benfica 1-0 lead.

Porto were the more aggressive of the two sides in the first half, though they failed to find a way past goalkeeper Quim, who was in fine form on this day.

Then, just before the half-time whistle, Benfica extended the lead when Carlos Martins’ sublime free kick curled in past a helpless Nuno to make it 2-0 at the break.

Benfica then took over in the second half as Porto looked completely deflated by the second goal, and Oscar Cardozo sealed the win in second-half stoppage time.

The title is Benfica’s second in just the third season of the fairly new competition. They were victorious over Sporting last season, while Vitória Setúbal won the inaugural competition in 2008.