Tondela Thump Vila Real 4–0 to Ignite Taça de Portugal Run

Tondela chose a cold, windy afternoon in Trás-os-Montes to remind everyone that the Taça de Portugal rarely forgives hesitation. In less than 100 minutes the Beira club dismantled Vila Real’s hopes, sealed a spot in the fourth round and, perhaps more importantly, injected badly needed momentum into a Liga 2 campaign that had been wobbling.

Northern afternoon, southern swagger

An hour before kick-off supporters still nursed coffees in the modest pastelarias surrounding the Monte da Forca ground, confident their Campeonato de Portugal side could at least make the favourites sweat. They barely found their seats before Tondela struck. A daring high press produced the opening goal, and by halftime the scoreboard showed a two-goal cushion that felt double its size. Ronaldo Camará’s crisp finish, a looping header from Pedro Márcio, and a late stoppage-time tap-in wrapped up a 4-0 rout that never looked in doubt. Vila Real’s only real chance—a fizzing free kick pushed over by Babacar Niasse—drew a sympathetic ovation but nothing more.

Why this result echoes beyond the cup

For locals, the Taça is still the ‘prova rainha’, a stage where amateur dreamers share the grass with seasoned professionals. Yet Tondela’s staff spoke less about romance and more about budget reality. Early exits cost appearance fees; deeper runs can bankroll winter reinforcements. Coach Tozé Marreco hinted as much, praising his players for “saving the club an awkward Monday board meeting”. The win also breaks a sequence of three league draws that had nudged the team out of the promotion play-off positions. In a Liga 2 where every euro and every point matter, a televised cup run can reset the narrative.

What changes on Monday morning

The draw for the next round takes place in Oeiras at FPF headquarters. Tondela joins Porto, Benfica and Sporting in the pot, which guarantees either a glamour tie or a realistic path to the quarter-finals. Ticket offices at the Estádio João Cardoso have already announced extended hours, mindful that a matchup with one of the ‘three grandes’ would generate a six-figure payday. Vila Real, for their part, return to the grind of the Serie A relegation battle. Coach Carlos Aguiar promised to “bottle the hurt” for Sunday’s trip to Merelim.

Trás-os-Montes and cup folklore

Northern Portugal has long supplied the competition’s upsets and folklore—think Mirandela knocking out Nacional in 2007 or Chaves reaching the semis in 2024. Sunday’s crowd of just under 2,800 went home without an upset but with the consolation of seeing top-flight quality up close. Local councillor Ana Lopes noted that hotel occupancy in Vila Real city centre hit 90% for the weekend, underscoring how a single cup fixture can jolt the regional economy. For Tondela, the journey south carried more than souvenirs: it restored the swagger that briefly faded after last spring’s failed promotion bid. As the coach pulled away from Monte da Forca, a handful of travelling fans unfurled a banner that read simply, ‘Voltámos’ — We’re back.