Leça Wins Final Against Vitória Sernache and Claims Title in Penalty Shootout. Leça became the champion of the Campeonato de Portugal after defeating Vitória Sernache in a penalty shootout. The match ended 1-1 after regular and extra time. The final was decided by a missed penalty from the opponent.
In the Campeonato de Portugal final held at the stadium in Oeiras, Leça secured the title, defeating Vitória Sernache in a penalty shootout with a score of 5:4. Regular and extra time ended in a 1:1 draw, and the outcome of the trophy was decided by Henrique Cavalcante's miss in the final shot of the series.
Leça opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time: after sustained pressure and a series of attacks, David Nzanza was first to the rebound and sent the ball into an empty net. Vitória Sernache, known for their solid defense, managed to level in the 70th minute—Ekanga Ondoa finished a cross from the flank, taking advantage of the first real chance to score.
In extra time, both teams played cautiously, avoiding risks and not pushing the pace. Despite a slight advantage for Leça, the score remained unchanged, and the final went to penalties. Here, Leça’s players proved more accurate: Martim Fortes converted the decisive spot-kick, while Henrique Cavalcante failed to outsmart the keeper, handing victory to the club from Matosinhos.
Throughout the match, both teams showcased their strengths: Leça—the season's top scorers, Vitória Sernache—with the fewest goals conceded. In the final, both sides’ qualities were on display, but the outcome was decided by the penalty shootout, where Leça held their nerve better.
Alongside the finalists, Louletano and Vianense also secured promotion to Liga 3. The match attracted around 5,000 spectators and was officiated strictly by João Matos, who showed eight yellow cards. Both teams’ lineups featured numerous substitutions, as coaches Mika and Natan Costa actively adjusted tactics throughout the game.
Leça's victory in the Campeonato de Portugal was one of the standout events of the season in Portuguese football. By comparison, the battle for leadership and advancement to the next stage is a topic that remains relevant for other clubs in the region as well, as seen in the example of the River Plate match for first place in the Copa Sudamericana group.
For reference: Campeonato de Portugal is the fourth tier of the country's football pyramid; its winners earn the right to compete in Liga 3. The final in Oeiras was the culmination of the season, where every mistake could cost the title. In recent years, Portuguese football has paid special attention to the development of regional clubs, which maintains a high level of competition even at the lower tiers of the league system.
