Torres Vedras in a state of emergency: Uniao Torreense, the football club of this Portuguese coastal town, has won the Portuguese Cup. With the first title in the club’s history, the club qualified for the Europa League. The climb could still follow on Thursday.
In the final against capital club Sporting Lisbon, the second division team won 2-1 (1-1, 1-0) after extra time. It is the first time in the history of the competition (which has existed since 1938/39) that a team not playing in the first division has won the cup. It has been 70 years since SCU Torreense last played in a final. Back then they lost in the 1956 cup final against FC Porto.
“We only had a few chances, but anything is possible in football. Let us take this message with us“, said midfielder Costinha after the game about the underdog role. The club, founded in 1917, only played in the top division for six seasons, most recently in 1991/1992, before the SCU said goodbye to the lower leagues.
Football fairy tale: David versus Goliath
In the cup final against Sporting, the heavy favorites and runners-up, the second division team took the lead in the 3rd minute through Kevin Zohi.
Sporting’s striker Luis Suarez (below) buries his face in the grass after the defeat
However, Colombian striker Luis Suárez equalized for the Lisbon club after half-time (53′). In extra time, Torreense was awarded a penalty after a foul by Maximiliano Araujo, who was subsequently sent off. The Cape Verdean Stopira converted in the 112th minute.
“Our time had come and I said from the beginning that we had to believe in it. We always fought, never gave up. We got the penalty and the title was absolutely deserved – for everything, for the people of Torres Vedras, for the club, for the season we played. We deserved this title”said Torres Vedras defender Stopira in a quick interview with “RTP”.
Musa Drammeh from SCU Torreense celebrates the cup victory with the fans
As a second division team in the European Cup?
With the cup win, Torreense has qualified for the European Cup and could face the German participants Bayer Leverkusen or TSG Hoffenheim.
The last time a second division team took part in the European competition was in 2024, when Wisla Krakow qualified for the Europa League by winning the Polish League Cup. The last time there was a German second division team was in 2004. At that time, Alemannia Aachen booked their ticket for the UEFA Cup as the defeated DFB Cup finalists because cup winners Bremen had already qualified for the Champions League. It is not yet clear that Torreense will follow these examples.
Ascent still possible
Because: The club could now crown its incredible season with promotion to the first league. The second leg of the promotion playoffs against Casa Pia takes place on Thursday (first leg 0-0).
“There is no rest, there are two finals and we will give everything until the end. There is only one more game against Casa Pia and we will fight until the end to win promotion“, says Stopira.
Party, then training
When the final whistle sounded, the residents of the small town, which lies west of Lisbon, streamed onto the streets to welcome their team. “Master! We are champions!” and “We are the pride of the West!“- Chants were started, car parades and a sea of flags dominated the cityscape.
“The club truly deserves it, the city truly deserves it, we made history. That will never be forgotten.”Costinha summarized the achievements at the Portuguese sports magazine “A Bola”, “Today there is a big celebration, but tomorrow we have to do regeneration training so that we can be fully operational again on Thursday.” SCU Torreense isn’t done with football fairy tales this season.
