The winner of the Women's League Cup has been found. Benfica won the 2023/24 edition of the competition on Wednesday afternoon, defeating their rival Sporting by 1-0. In what was the fourth derby between the two clubs from the Portuguese capital, the Restelo Stadium was dressed up for the occasion on Labor Day for a game that had good moments from both sides, especially thanks to the two goalkeepers. Although the first half ended without goals, the truth is that both Lena Pauels and Hanna Seabert made good saves that led to the draw at halftime. The Eagles entered the match better and targeted Seabert's goal with shots from Raysla. But the Lionesses balanced the derby as the minutes passed and also threatened the goal guarded by Lena Pauels. The second half began with Sporting on top of the match. Benfica's goalkeeper was forced to intervene in great style on a header from Diana Silva, before Rita Fontemanha, in the 80th minute, shot against the opposing defense when she had a great chance to score. In the final ten minutes, Filipa Patão went to the bench looking for options to refresh the attack and it was in this bet that Benfica won the match. Chandra Davidson had been on the field for only two minutes when she scored the winning goal. After Rita Fontemanha lost the ball in midfield, Kika Nazareth served Andreia Faria. The forward found Chandra entering the area who, after shooting for Seabert to save, managed to get the ball past the goal line. Sporting still tried to go in search of the goal that would take the match to extra time, but the victory ended up falling to Benfica, who reached the fourth Women's League Cup in their record. The incarnate team had won in 2022/23, 2020/21 and 2019/20. The Lionesses have already played in the League Cup final for the second time, but they still have no victory in the competition.

Minute by minute:

90+9' - The match ends

90+7' - Andreia Norton tries to shoot from outside the area, but the ball goes over the crossbar of Hannah Seabert's goal.

90+3' - Yellow card for Mariana Cabral for protests.

90+1' - Joana Martins and Fátima Dutra leave Sporting for the entries of Maiara Niehues and Alícia Correia.

90' - Seven minutes of stoppage time.

85' - Yellow card for Catarina Amado.

84' - GOALLLLLLLLLL FOR BENFICA. CHANDRA DAVIDSON ENTERS TO SCORE! After Rita Fontemanha lost the ball in midfield, Kika Nazareth serves Andreia Faria. The forward found Chandra entering the area who, after shooting for Seabert to save, managed to get the ball past the goal line.

82' - Sporting also moves. Brittany Raphino leaves and Ana Capeta enters.

82' - Double change in Benfica. Marie Alidou and Nycole Raysla leave for the entries of Chandra Davidson and Andreia Norton.

80' - What a waste for Sporting! Rita Fontemanha had everything to score, but could do no better than shoot against the legs of the opposing defense.

73' - Nycole Raysla shoots at the entrance of the area for Hannah Seabert to save.

60' - Filipa Patão changes the team and brings in Catarina Amado to replace Jéssica Silva. The forward leaves the match in tears.

48' - Great save by Lena Pauels! After a free kick that was taken by Joana Martins, Diana Silva appeared in the heart of the area to deflect, but the German goalkeeper defended the header. 

46' - The second half begins.

45+2' - Halftime at Restelo. The initial draw remains.

45+1' - First yellow card of the match. Kika Nazareth fouled Olivia Smith and ended up being cautioned. 

45' - Two minutes of compensation.

35' - Great save by Seabert. Nycole Raysla appeared in front of the Sporting goalkeeper, who managed to stop the shot from the incarnate number nine.

27' - Danger to Benfica's goal. Olivia Smith almost managed to take advantage of a cross from the left, but the ball goes wide of the goal.

20' - More balanced match in the last few minutes.

10' - Free kick in a frontal position for Benfica. Carole Costa's shot goes just over the crossbar.

8'  - Forced change at Sporting. Jacynta Gala was injured after a touch and Diana Silva entered in her place.

5' - Great opportunity for Benfica. After a shot from Kika Nazareth, the ball reached Nycole Raysla, but the Brazilian could not defeat Seabert.

1' - The duel starts at the Restelo Stadium.

Starting teams

Benfica: Lena Pauels, Ana Seiça, Carole Costa, Christy Ucheibe, Marie Alidou, Andreia Faria, Kika Nazareth, Anna Gasper, Lúcia Alves, Jéssica Silva and Nycole Raysla.

Substitutes: Rute Costa, Sílvia Rebelo, Paige Almendariz, Marta Cintra, Andreia Norton, Catarina Amado, Chandra Davidson, Andrea Falcón and Laís Araújo.

Sporting: Hanna Seabert, Ana Borges, Andrea Norheim, Rita Fontemanha, Fátima Dutra, Brenda Peréz, Cláudia Neto, Joana Martins, Jacynta Gala, Olivia Smith and Britany Raphino.

Substitutes: Carolina Jóia, Bruna Lourenço, Ana Capeta, Diana Silva, Maiara Niehues, Rita Almeida, Maísa Correia, Mariana Rosa and Alícia Correia.

Preview

It's a big match day in the city of Lisbon. Benfica and Sporting face each other, on Wednesday afternoon, at the Restelo Stadium, in the final of the 2023/24 edition of the Women's League Cup. The incarnate team won the trophy three times (in 2022/23, 2020/21 and 2019/20), being the record holder of the competition. In turn, Mariana Cabral's team reaches the League Cup final for the second time, but has never lifted the League Cup trophy. Even so, the Lionesses have good memories of the Restelo Stadium, where they won the Super Cup in 2020/2021, against this Wednesday's opponent. The match between Benfica and Sporting, which will be refereed by referee Sara Diana Alves, is scheduled to