FC Porto assured an important advantage in the first leg of the semi-final of the Portuguese Cup, after beating Sporting de Braga 3-0, at Estádio do Dragão. Alex Telles, Soares and Brahimi scored the goals in the blue and white victory, reaching a result that offers good perspectives for the second leg, scheduled for early April, in Braga.

Sérgio Conceição showed confidence on the team that assured the victory in Tondela, and only changed the goalkeeper, as Fabiano took the spot that has been his in the Portuguese Cup. The teams met again at Estádio do Dragão, after the intense duel for the League, on November 10, 2018, decided with a single goal scored by Soares.

The first minutes of the last round before the final of the Portuguese Cup were balanced. An accidental deflection from Alex Telles, after a shot by Wilson Eduardo, did scare Fabiano, but the response started showing up, as the blue and white performance improved.

FC Porto tried to take advantage of the few spaces available and showed strength in set pieces. On minute 27, Pepe was in the right spot to open the scoreboard, heading straight at Marafona, after a corner-kick taken by Alex Telles. The first goal of the match would come shortly after.

After half an hour, the national champions were given a penalty for the clear foul on Herrera, hit in the area by the opposing goalkeeper. With calm and insight, Alex Telles made it count.

The blue and white team deserved the advantage, despite the considerable amount of work on the defence. Fabiano did great to stop a shot by Dyego Sousa (54m). On the other end of the pitch, Marafona prevented Corona from scoring (60m), only delaying what Soares would reach.

The forward went in to replace Fernando Andrade at the start of the second-half and only needed 18 minutes to score. Otávio crossed from the right, the ball was deflected and found its way to Soares, who controlled the ball with his left knee and surprised the goalkeeper with a subtle shot to the far post.

Danilo Pereira and Brahimi were the last changes Sérgio Conceição sent in, again with a decisive impact in the match. In stoppage time, after a great pass from Óliver, Brahimi cut inside and shot at the back of the net, with Marafona powerless to stop it. A perfect ending for the first part of the round.