Moreirense defeated Braga 1–0 to win their first national cup in their first appearance in a national cup final.
Background
On 19 June 2015, the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional ("LPFP") announced that the number of teams in the 2016–17 LigaPro season would be reduced to 22, thus reducing the number of teams that would play in the Taça da Liga from 37 to 35.[2]
On 28 June 2016, the LPFP approved some changes in relation to the semi-finals matches. It was settled that both the semi-finals and final match were to be played in the same week and in the same stadium.[3]
Braga made their second appearance in the Taça da Liga final after their first final in 2013, where they defeated Porto 1–0.[4][5] Moreirense had their first appearance in any national competition final in the club's history.[6] Both clubs are from Braga Football Association.
In Braga's and Moreirense's entire history, the two teams had played one another 15 times – Braga won eight matches, Moreirense won one match and the teams drew six matches.[7] Before the final, the last meeting between both sides had been in the domestic league, on 22 December 2016, with hosts Braga defeating Moreirense 2–1.[8]
In the next stage, Moreirense were drawn into Group C together with Feirense, Belenenses and Porto. Moreirense's first match was away against Feirense on 1 December. Moreirense defeated the Santa Maria da Feira-based side 1–2 with goals from Ença Fati and Emmanuel Boateng, both in the first half.[10] Moreirense's second group stage match was a home tie against Belenenses which ended 3–3. Moreirense took the lead on 34 minutes through Roberto, who then scored an own goal in the 20th minute of the second half. André Sousa and Miguel Rosa gave a 1–3 lead to Belenenses before Cauê converted a penalty. Roberto scored his second goal to seal a draw.[11] Their third and final group stage match was a 1–0 victory against Porto on 3 January, with Francisco Geraldes scoring the only goal of the match.[12]
In the semi-finals played on 26 January, Moreirense played Benfica. The first half saw Benfica dominate possession and score an early goal from Eduardo Salvio. In the first minute of second half, winger Ousmane Dramé scored to level the score. On the 54th minute, Boateng scored another goal for the Cónegos, assisted by Cauê. Eighteen minutes later, he scored again, this time assisted by Daniel Podence, becoming the first player to score two goals against Benfica in a Taça da Liga match.[13][14] This result marked Benfica's first defeat in the competition since 31 October 2007 and put an end to a 42-match unbeaten run.[15] This was also Moreirense's first ever win over Benfica in 20 matches.[16]
Match officials were confirmed on 27 January, when Artur Soares Dias of Porto was named the referee for the final. Soares Dias was assisted by Rui Tavares (Porto) and Nuno Pereira (Coimbra). The fourth official was João Silva (Porto), while the additional assistant referees were Hélder Malheiro (Lisbon) and Luís Ferreira (Braga).[19]
Ticketing
Tickets for the final four went on sale on 19 December.[20] The LPFP allocated tickets for both finalist clubs with prices for the match varying between €5 and €15.
Venue
On 28 June 2016, the LPFP announced that both the semi-finals and final would be played at a neutral venue.[21] On 15 July, the Estádio Algarve was selected to host the final four.[22][23]
The Estádio Algarve had previously hosted the Taça da Liga final three times, in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The first one was won by Vitória de Setúbal (after a penalty shoot-out), while the last two were won by Benfica.
The Estádio Algarve holds a capacity for 30,002 spectators and was opened in 2004 ahead of UEFA Euro 2004.
