It was a matter of time, but FC Porto Sofarma didn’t want to wait and became the national champion in handball this Tuesday, after beating Madeira SAD (29-20), in Funchal, for matchday 8 of the second stage of Andebol 1. With two matches left to play, the dragons already assured that they will win the 21st championship in the history of the club, thus matching Sporting in the number of national titles. FC Porto hadn’t won the national title in handball since 2015, when they won seven championships in a row, a feat never seen before.

After an honourable and historical third place in the EHF Cup and the victory in the championship, the team led by Magnus Andersson still has one trophy to win in 2018/19: the Portuguese Cup. And it should be reminded that FC Porto hasn’t won the Portuguese Cup since 2006/07. But there is more. This group may become part of the history of the club, as FC Porto was never to win both titles, meaning the championship and the Portuguese Cup in the same season. FC Porto-Póvoa AC and Águas Santas-Madeira SAD are the matches for the Final Four, which will be played on June 1 and 2, in Sines.

The first-half of the match against Madeira SAD wasn’t an exciting match of handball, but the Dragons did what they had to do and reached the break winning by five (13-8), thanks, most of all, to a strong and intense defence. Madeira SAD started the second-half better and made the best of a more tired blue and white team to reduce the disadvantage, which would increase again as FC Porto Sofarma secured the eighth victory in eight matches in this second stage of Andebol 1. The title went to the best team.

MATCH REPORT

MADEIRA SAD-FC PORTO SOFARMA, 20-29
Andebol 1, 2nd stage, matchday 8
May 21, 2019
Pavilhão do Funchal

Referees: Miguel Ventura and João Mendes

MADEIRA SAD: João Silva and Gustavo Capdeville (g.k.); Hugo Lima (1), Valter Soares (4), João Martins, Ulisses Ribeiro, Lourenço Silva (1), Daniel Santos, Bruno Landim (7), Elias António, Rúben Sousa, João Miranda (2), Elledy Semedo (2), Pedro Peneda (1) and Francisco Pereira (2)
Coach: Paulo Fidalgo

FC PORTO SOFARMA: Alfredo Quintana and Thomas Bauer (g.k.); Víctor Iturriza (2), Yoan Balázquez (1), Miguel Martins, Djibril M´Bengue, Ángel Hernández (3), Rui Silva (1), Daymaro Salina (5), Leonel Fernandes (1), Alexis Borges (2), Diogo Branquinho (2), António Areia (3), André Gomes (2), Miguel Alves (3) and Fábio Magalhães (4)
Coach: Magnus Andersson

At halftime: 8-13