FC Porto qualified to the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup after beating Varzim at home, 2-1. Soares and Marcano were the scorers for the blue and whites, who controlled the entire match and went home with the feeling of a mission accomplished.

The Dragons had several opportunities to score in the first minutes. Sérgio Oliveira (5m), Fábio Silva (13m) and Manafá (20m) gave the first warnings to the opposing goal, but the usual player would be the one scoring. Fábio Silva won the ball in the midfield and passed to Saravia on the right. The fullback, in a low cross, found Otávio in the penalty sport and the intelligence of the Brazilian came up. With his heel, he found Soares, who scored for the Dragons (28m). On the best moment of his career, the striker scored his eighth goal in the last seven matches in the starting team. He is at 13 this season.

Before the break, two more goals, both from set pieces. 36 minutes in, against all odds, Hugo Gomes scored from a powerful free-kick. The “missile” shot by the defender only stopped when it hit the back of the goal, in the only opportunity the opponent had in the entire match. Unshaken, the blue and whites got back to the attack and, five minutes later, moved ahead again. The free-kick taken on the left by Sérgio Oliveira found Marcano, who headed the ball in (41m), giving no chances to Ismael Costa. It was the fourth goal of the Spanish defender this season, all scored in matches that ended in a victory for the blue and whites.

A slim advantage that reached the end of the match, with FC Porto remaining in control over the ball, at a slower pace. Fábio Silva (60m) and Soares (65m) remained a threat aimed at goal, but failed to score. Sérgio Conceição tried to reinforce the midfield and sent in Romário Baró, returning from injury, and Vítor Ferreira, who debuted for the main squad aged 19. The match immediately increased their pace, but the goal situations remained scarce.

From a direct free-kick, Alex Telles aimed for goal (88m), but the match ended without any more goals. A fair and undisputable victory for the Dragons, who reach the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup for the third year in a row.