Desportivo das Aves have won their first ever major trophy courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Taca de Portugal final this evening.
Competing in their first season back in the top flight of Portuguese football, Aves stunned the favourites at the Estadio Nacional to deny Sporting a domestic cup double, having already clinched the Taca da Liga earlier in the campaign.
Two goals from former Sporting player Alexandre Guedes put the underdogs on the verge of their historic triumph, but a late strike from Fredy Montero made for a nervy finale to the contest.
However, Aves held out for the final five minutes to wrap up the victory, picking up their first major piece of silverware having previously only won the second- and third-tier titles in Portugal.
Sporting did have the chances to force a different outcome, with Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes both squandering sights of goal before Bas Dost crashed an effort against the crossbar.
Montero's 85th-minute strike gave them late hope, but Sporting - whose players were attacked by their own supporters at their training ground this week - could not force extra time in the closing stages.
DESPORTIVO DAS AVES (4-2-3-1): Quim; Alves, Ponck, Galo, Lenho; Tissone, Gomes, Amilton (Balde 75'), Braga (Falacao 71'), Petrolina (Fellipe 91'); Guedes
SPORTING LISBON (4-2-3-1): Patricio; Ristovski, Coates, Mathieu, Coentrao (Misic 63'); Battaglia, William (Montero 46'); Martins, Fernandes, Acuna; Dost
Barney Corkhill
