2015–16 Taça da Liga

The 2015–16 Taça da Liga was the ninth edition of the Taça da Liga, a football cup competition organized by the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) and contested exclusively by clubs competing in the top two professional tiers of Portuguese football. The competition was sponsored by CTT and, therefore, was known as Taça CTT.[1][2]

2015–16 Taça da Liga
Taça CTT
Tournament details
Host countryPortugal
Dates1 August 2015 – 20 May 2016
Teams37
Final positions
ChampionsBenfica (7th title)
Runners-upMarítimo
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored127 (2.65 per match)
Top scorer(s)Raúl Jiménez
Talisca
(4 goals each)

A total of 37 teams contested this tournament, including 18 teams from the 2015–16 Primeira Liga and 19 non-reserve teams from the 2015–16 LigaPro. The competition format suffered changes relative to the previous season, with the first round (round-robin group stage) and second round (two-legged ties) being converted into single-legged knockout rounds.

Trophy holders Benfica defeated previous runners-up Marítimo in the final to extend their record in the competition to seven wins.

Format edit

The competition format for the 2015–16 season consisted of three rounds followed by a knockout phase (semi-finals and final), but presents changes relative to the previous season. Nineteen teams competing in the 2015–16 LigaPro (reserve teams from Primeira Liga clubs are excluded) took part in the first round; one-legged ties were played between eighteen teams, with the nineteenth team receiving a bye to the next round.

In the second round, the ten teams advancing from the previous round (nine winners plus the team with a bye) were joined by the twelve teams placed 5th–16th in the 2014–15 Primeira Liga and by the two teams promoted to 2015–16 Primeira Liga. Again, one-legged ties were played between the twenty-four teams, with the winners advancing to the third round.

The third round featured the twelve winners of the previous round and the four best-placed teams in the 2014–15 Primeira Liga. The sixteen teams were drawn into four groups that were contested in a single round-robin format, with each team playing at least one game at home. The four group winners qualified for the semi-finals, which were played as single-legged ties. The final was played at a neutral venue.[3]

Round Teams entering in this round Teams advancing from previous round
First round
(19 teams)
Second round
(24 teams)
  • 9 winners from the first round
  • 1 team that received a bye
Third round
(16 teams)
  • 12 winners from the second round
Semi-finals
(4 teams)
  • 4 group winners from the third round
Final
(2 teams)
  • 2 winners from the semi-finals

Tiebreakers edit

In the third round, teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If two or more teams are tied on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:

  1. highest goal difference in all group matches;
  2. highest number of scored goals in all group matches;
  3. lowest average age of all players fielded in all group matches (sum of the ages of all fielded players divided by the number of fielded players).

In all other rounds, teams tied at the end of regular time contest a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Teams edit

Thirty-seven teams competing in the two professional tiers of Portuguese football for the 2015–16 season were eligible to participate in this competition. For Primeira Liga teams, the final league position in the previous season determined in which round they enter the competition.

Third round (Primeira Liga)
Benfica (1st) Porto (2nd) Sporting CP (3rd) Braga (4th)
Second round (Primeira Liga)
Vitória de Guimarães (5th) Belenenses (6th) Nacional (7th) Paços de Ferreira (8th)
Marítimo (9th) Rio Ave (10th) Moreirense (11th) Estoril (12th)
Boavista (13th) Vitória de Setúbal (14th) Académica (15th) Arouca (16th)
Tondela (P1) União da Madeira (P1)
First round (LigaPro)
Gil Vicente (R1) Penafiel (R1) Chaves (3rd) Sporting da Covilhã (4th)
Feirense (7th) Freamunde (8th) Farense (11th) Académico de Viseu (12th)
Portimonense (14th) Oriental (15th) Olhanense (16th) Oliveirense (17th)
Desportivo das Aves (18th) Santa Clara (19th) Leixões (20th) Atlético CP (22nd)
Mafra (P2) Famalicão (P2) Varzim (P2)
Key
  • Nth: League position in the 2014–15 season
  • P1: Promoted to the Primeira Liga
  • P2: Promoted to the LigaPro
  • R1: Relegated to the LigaPro

Schedule edit

All draws were held at the LPFP headquarters in Porto, except for the draw for the first and second rounds, which took place in Loulé.

Round Draw date Match date(s) Teams Fixtures
First round 4 July 2015 1–2 August 2015 37 → 28 9
Second round September – October 2015 28 → 16 12
Third round Matchday 1 28 October 2015 29–30 December 2015 16 → 4 24
Matchday 2 19–21 January 2016
Matchday 3 26–28 January 2016
Knockout phase Semi-finals 9–11 February 2016 4 → 2 2
Final 20 May 2016 2 → 1 1

Source: LPFP[4]

First round edit

The 19 non-reserve teams competing in the 2015–16 LigaPro entered the competition in this round. Eighteen teams were paired against each other for nine single-legged ties, while the nineteenth team (Famalicão) was given a bye to the next round.[3] The draw took place on 4 July 2015, and matches were played on 1–2 August 2015.

1 August 2015 Oliveirense 1–1
(5–3 p)
FarenseOliveira de Azeméis
18:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Carlitos   90+3' Report Rashid   6' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio Carlos Osório
Attendance: 547
Referee: Hélder Lamas
Penalties
Mendonça  
Godinho  
Renan  
Carlitos  
Carela  
  Gomes
  Rashid
  Edinho
  Irobiso
2 August 2015 Mafra0–2 Leixões Mafra
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Report Lamas   85' (pen.), 90+3' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Mafra
Attendance: 420
Referee: João Bento
2 August 2015 Feirense 2–1Sporting da CovilhãSanta Maria da Feira
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Erivaldo   58', 73' Report Mailó   7' Stadium: Estádio Marcolino de Castro
Attendance: 706
Referee: Pedro Campos
2 August 2015 Santa Clara1–1
(5–6 p)
Atlético CP Ponta Delgada, Azores
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Clemente   11' Report Vouho   68' Stadium: Estádio de São Miguel
Attendance: 382
Referee: Duarte Oliveira
Penalties
Carraça  
Ronaldo  
Marocas  
Batatinha  
Silva  
Pacheco  
Freitas  
  Mbemba
  Vouho
  Malele
  Pires
  Ribeiro
  Au Yeung
  Djikiné
2 August 2015 Penafiel 2–0OlhanensePenafiel
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Barros   40', 42' Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril
Attendance: 434
Referee: Daniel Cardoso
2 August 2015 Portimonense 3–0Desportivo das AvesPortimão
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Clemente   13'
Candé   24'
Fabrício   44'
Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Portimão
Attendance: 756
Referee: Bruno Rebocho
2 August 2015 Chaves0–2 Varzim Chaves
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Report Mourão   50'
Nelsinho   71'
Stadium: Estádio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira
Attendance: 0[note 1]
Referee: João Matos
2 August 2015 Oriental 1–1
(4–2 p)
FreamundeLisbon
17:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Gomes   47' Report Ansumane   61' Stadium: Campo Eng. Carlos Salema
Attendance: 437
Referee: João Mendes
Penalties
Grilo  
T. Tavares  
Firmino  
Gomes  
  Raínho
  Pereira
  Bruno
  Cafú

Second round edit

In the second round, the nine first-round winners and Famalicão, who were given a bye to this round, joined the 12 teams ranked 5th–16th in the 2014–15 Primeira Liga and the two teams promoted from the 2014–15 Segunda Liga. These 24 teams were paired against each other into 12 single-legged ties, with the winners advancing to the next round.[3] The draw took place on 4 July 2015, and matches were played through September and October 2015.

16 September 2015 Marítimo 2–1AcadémicaFunchal, Madeira
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Costa   47'
João Diogo   57'
Report Lopes   35' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio dos Barreiros
Attendance: 2,322
Referee: Vasco Santos
23 September 2015 Oliveirense1–2 Famalicão Oliveira de Azeméis
15:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Léléco   36' Report Silvério   5'
Feliz   76'
Stadium: Estádio Carlos Osório
Attendance: 529
Referee: Hélder Malheiro
23 September 2015 Oriental 3–2EstorilLisbon
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Mendes   32'
Varela   35'
Gomes   50'
Report Luiz Phellype   18'
Bonatini   72' (pen.)
Stadium: Campo Eng. Carlos Salema
Attendance: 422
Referee: André Moreira
23 September 2015 Leixões 1–1
(5–4 p)
Académico de ViseuMatosinhos
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Guo   72' Report Carvalho   58' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio do Mar
Attendance: 521
Referee: Bruno Jesus
Penalties
Cadinha  
Pedras  
Lamas  
Graça  
Barros  
Tandjigora  
  Carvalho
  Kiko
  Gradíssimo
  Porto
  Bura
  Costa
23 September 2015 Penafiel1–2 Portimonense Penafiel
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Mbala   90+4' (pen.) Report Fidélis   8'
Fabrício   90+2'
Stadium: Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril
Attendance: 207
Referee: Gonçalo Martins
10 October 2015 Atlético CP0–2 Belenenses Lisbon
15:30 WEST (UTC+01:00) Report Silva   11' (pen.)
Sturgeon   50'
Stadium: Estádio da Tapadinha
Referee: Luís Godinho
10 October 2015 Tondela0–0
(6–7 p)
Nacional Tondela
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Report Stadium: Estádio João Cardoso
Attendance: 534
Referee: Bruno Esteves
Penalties
Monteiro  
Wágner  
L. Machado  
Nascimento  
Berger  
E. Machado  
Baldé  
Menga  
  Sequeira
  Soares
  Agra
  Gustavo
  Washington
  L. Aurélio
  J. Aurélio
  Ghazal
10 October 2015 Rio Ave 3–2Vitória de GuimarãesVila do Conde
18:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Capela   25'
Guedes   74', 90+1'
Report Licá   54'
Valente   86'
Stadium: Estádio do Rio Ave FC
Referee: Manuel Oliveira
11 October 2015 Varzim0–0
(3–4 p)
Arouca Póvoa de Varzim
16:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Report Stadium: Estádio do Varzim SC
Attendance: 849
Referee: Sérgio Piscarreta
Penalties
Organista  
Hernâni  
Cunha  
Coentrão  
 
  Simão
  Adilson
  Nildo Petrolina
  Nelsinho
12 October 2015 Feirense 1–1
(4–3 p)
BoavistaSanta Maria da Feira
20:00 WEST (UTC+01:00) Fabinho   13' Report Luisinho   2' Stadium: Estádio Marcolino de Castro
Attendance: 1,270
Referee: Nuno Almeida
Penalties
Cris  
Ícaro  
Platiny  
Erivaldo  
Porcellis  
  Tengarrinha
  Luisinho
  R. Santos
  Inkoom
  Figueiredo

Third round edit

In the third round, the 12 second-round winners joined the four top-ranked teams from the 2014–15 Primeira Liga: Benfica (1st), Porto (2nd), Sporting CP (3rd) and Braga (4th). These 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four, each group containing one of the four top-ranked Primeira Liga teams. Group matches are played in a single round-robin format, ensuring that each team plays at least one match at home.[3] The draw took place on 28 October 2015, 12:00 WET, and matches were played on 15 November, 28–30 December 2015, 19–20 January and 26–27 January 2016.[5]

Group A edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Marítimo 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Advance to knockout phase
2 Feirense 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
3 Famalicão 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
4 Porto 3 0 0 3 1 6 −5 0
Source: LPFP
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
15 November 2015 Feirense 2–4 Marítimo Santa Maria da Feira
17:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Ícaro   20'
Porcellis   77'
Report Fransérgio   18'
Rodrigues   24', 45' (pen.)
Dirceu   79'
Stadium: Estádio Marcolino de Castro
Attendance: 836
Referee: Jorge Sousa
29 December 2015 Porto 1–3 Marítimo Porto
18:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Aboubakar   90+5' Report Fransérgio   48'
Soares   70'
Marega   90+3'
Stadium: Estádio do Dragão
Attendance: 31,219
Referee: Vasco Santos
30 December 2015 Famalicão 0–1 Feirense Vila Nova de Famalicão
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Micael   50' Stadium: Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho
Attendance: 650
Referee: Tiago Antunes
20 January 2016 Famalicão 1–0 Porto Vila Nova de Famalicão
19:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Alonso   58' Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho
Attendance: 3,491
Referee: Luís Ferreira
27 January 2016 Feirense 2–0 Porto Santa Maria da Feira
20:15 WET (UTC±00:00) Castro   39' (pen.)
Porcellis   81'
Report Stadium: Estádio Marcolino de Castro
Attendance: 1,422
Referee: Cosme Machado
27 January 2016 Marítimo 0–0 Famalicão Funchal, Madeira
20:15 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Stadium: Estádio dos Barreiros
Attendance: 3,072
Referee: Rui Oliveira

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Benfica 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9 Advance to knockout phase
2 Nacional 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
3 Moreirense 3 1 1 1 5 8 −3 4
4 Oriental 3 0 0 3 2 6 −4 0
Source: LPFP
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
29 December 2015 Oriental 2–4 Moreirense Lisbon
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) T. Tavares   35'
Fernando   90+2'
Report D. Tavares   6' (o.g.)
Boateng   45+2'
Martins   86' (pen.), 90'
Stadium: Campo Eng. Carlos Salema
Attendance: 442
Referee: Bruno Paixão
29 December 2015 Benfica 1–0 Nacional Lisbon
19:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Jiménez   90' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,107
Referee: João Capela
19 January 2016 Oriental 0–1 Benfica Lisbon
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Talisca   74' Stadium: Campo Eng. Carlos Salema
Attendance: 3,409
Referee: Tiago Antunes
20 January 2016 Moreirense 0–0 Nacional Moreira de Cónegos
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Stadium: Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas
Attendance: 514
Referee: Jorge Ferreira
26 January 2016 Nacional 1–0 Oriental Funchal, Madeira
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Agra   90+4' Report Stadium: Estádio da Madeira
Attendance: 127
Referee: Luís Godinho
26 January 2016 Moreirense 1–6 Benfica Moreira de Cónegos
20:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Medeiros   25' Report Talisca   12' (pen.), 14', 83'
Gaitán   20', 90'
Jiménez   30'
Stadium: Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas
Attendance: 4,206
Referee: Sérgio Piscarreta

Group C edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Portimonense 3 3 0 0 9 3 +6 9 Advance to knockout phase
2 Sporting CP 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
3 Paços de Ferreira 3 0 1 2 4 7 −3 1
4 Arouca 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4 1
Source: LPFP
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
28 December 2015 Portimonense 4–1 Arouca Portimão
18:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Carvalhas   16' (pen.), 47', 57' (pen.)
Nelsinho   39' (o.g.)
Report Roberto   35' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Portimão
Attendance: 895
Referee: Luís Ferreira
29 December 2015 Sporting CP 3–1 Paços de Ferreira Lisbon
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Aquilani   8'
G. Martins   52'
Ruiz   72'
Report Christian   45+2' Stadium: Estádio José Alvalade
Attendance: 23,462
Referee: Manuel Mota
19 January 2016 Portimonense 2–0 Sporting CP Portimão
19:45 WET (UTC±00:00) Ewerton   36', 90+2' (pen.) Report Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Portimão
Attendance: 4,673
Referee: Manuel Oliveira
20 January 2016 Arouca 1–1 Paços de Ferreira Arouca
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Mateus   57' Report J. Silva   54' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Arouca
Attendance: 314
Referee: Tiago Martins
26 January 2016 Arouca 0–1 Sporting CP Arouca
18:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Zeegelaar   81' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Arouca
Attendance: 956
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo
26 January 2016 Paços de Ferreira 2–3 Portimonense Paços de Ferreira
18:30 WET (UTC±00:00) Costa   6'
Manuel José   27'
Report Fidélis   44'
Cícero   71' (o.g.)
Fabrício   74'
Stadium: Estádio Capital do Móvel
Attendance: 419
Referee: Bruno Esteves

Group D edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Braga 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Advance to knockout phase
2 Rio Ave 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5
3 Belenenses 3 1 1 1 6 3 +3 4
4 Leixões 3 0 0 3 1 10 −9 0
Source: LPFP
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
28 December 2015 Braga 2–1 Belenenses Braga
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Pedro Santos   13'
Fonte   31'
Report Caeiro   89' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Braga
Attendance: 4,863
Referee: Jorge Ferreira
29 December 2015 Leixões 1–2 Rio Ave Matosinhos
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Nunes   90+2' Report Kayembe   4'
Tarantini   38'
Stadium: Estádio do Mar
Attendance: 1,010
Referee: Rui Oliveira
20 January 2016 Leixões 0–4 Braga Matosinhos
15:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Pedro Santos   10'
Hassan   53'
Fonte   84'
Eduardo   90+2' (pen.)
Stadium: Estádio do Mar
Attendance: 932
Referee: João Pinheiro
20 January 2016 Rio Ave 1–1 Belenenses Vila do Conde
20:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Krovinović   58' Report Silva   79' Stadium: Estádio do Rio Ave FC
Attendance: 1,613
Referee: Artur Soares Dias
27 January 2016 Belenenses 4–0 Leixões Lisbon
16:00 WET (UTC±00:00) Tonel   9'
Betinho   69'
Juanto   78', 86'
Report Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Attendance: 584
Referee: André Moreira
27 January 2016 Rio Ave 0–0 Braga Vila do Conde
18:15 WET (UTC±00:00) Report Stadium: Estádio do Rio Ave FC
Attendance: 2,493
Referee: João Capela

Knockout phase edit

In the knockout phase, the four teams advancing from the third round contested one-legged semi-final matches for a place in the competition final. The winners of Groups A and B host the winners of Groups C and D, respectively.[3] The semi-finals were played on 10 February and 2 May, and the final was played on 20 May at Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, in Coimbra.[5]

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
10 February – Estádio dos Barreiros
 
 
Marítimo3
 
20 May – Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
 
Portimonense1
 
Marítimo2
 
2 May – Estádio da Luz
 
Benfica6
 
Benfica2
 
 
Braga1
 

Semi-finals edit

Marítimo3–1Portimonense
Costa   17'
Bessa   31'
Diawara   90+4'
Report Pires   4'
Attendance: 5,237
Referee: João Capela

Benfica2–1Braga
Jonas   58'
Jiménez   71'
Report Silva   19'
Attendance: 24,933
Referee: Tiago Martins

Final edit

Marítimo2–6Benfica
João Diogo   45+1'
Fransérgio   83' (pen.)
Report Jonas   11'
Mitroglou   18', 38'
Gaitán   77'
Jardel   90+1'
Jiménez   90+3' (pen.)
Attendance: 28,878
Referee: Fábio Veríssimo (Leiria)

Notes edit

  1. ^ The match between Chaves and Varzim was played behind closed doors due to punishment by FPF.

References edit

  1. ^ "CTT são "naming" sponsor da Taça da Liga" [CTT are the naming sponsor of the Taça da Liga] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP). 15 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. ^ "CTT apostam no futebol como eixo estratégico de comunicação" [CTT bet in football as a strategic axis of communication] (in Portuguese). CTT. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Regulamento das Competições organizadas pela Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional" [Regulations of the Competitions organized by the Portuguese Professional Football League] (PDF) (in Portuguese). LPFP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-24. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Calendário Taça da Liga – Época 2015-2016" (in Portuguese). LPFP. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Conheça os resultados do sorteio da Taça CTT" (in Portuguese). LPFP. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.

External links edit