A remarkable sporting feat unfolded in Portugal this Sunday. The modest club Torreense, playing in the country's Second Division, has accomplished the extraordinary feat of winning the Portuguese Cup, the Taça, against none other than Sporting CP, a quarter-finalist in the Champions League. This triumph grants them direct entry into the league phase of the upcoming Europa League.
The team from the city of Torres Vedras, located approximately 50 kilometers north of Lisbon, took the lead in the first half with a goal from Kevin Zohi. In the second half, Colombian player Luis Suárez equalized. The match, tied at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, was ultimately decided in extra time.
This means everything to us. To have the chance to play in Europe is a dream.
With an extra player on the field following the expulsion of Maximiliano Araújo, Torreense secured their historic victory from the penalty spot, with veteran player Stopira scoring the decisive goal in the 113th minute. This marks the club's second Portuguese Cup final appearance, having lost the first in 1956 against FC Porto.
Unai Pérez, the Basque goalkeeper who trained at Lezama and played for Barakaldo last season, sought a new adventure this summer. Although he did not feature in the final, he celebrated his team's monumental achievement. Pérez joined Athletic Bilbao's youth academy as a cadet, played for Basconia, and left Lezama in 2022 to join UD Logroñés B. After a season in La Rioja, he signed with Barakaldo, helping them achieve promotion to Primera RFEF in 2024, where he played 30 matches last season before his move to Portugal.
Torreense now faces another significant challenge: promotion to the First Division. This coming Thursday, they will play against Casa Pia, a team featuring player Gaizka Larrazabal, in a crucial match for league survival. The first leg ended in a goalless draw.
