Alioune Ndoye wrote himself into Vitória Guimarães folklore with two stoppage-time goals that stunned Sporting Lisbon and carried the Conquistadores into the final of the Portuguese League Cup.
Trailing for most of the evening at the Estádio José Alvalade, Guimarães looked set for elimination until the 24-year-old Senegalese forward produced an astonishing cameo from the bench.
Introduced in the 78th minute with his side 1-0 down, Ndoye turned the tie on its head in the dying moments, striking in the 92nd and 101st minutes of stoppage time to seal a 2-1 victory.
It was the latest chapter in an unlikely cup run that has already seen Vitória remove heavyweights FC Porto in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 triumph at the Estádio do Dragão.
This latest away success, achieved on one of Portugal’s most intimidating grounds, underlined the resilience and belief coursing through a team that currently sits sixth in the domestic league but continues to defy expectations in the cup.
Sporting had appeared to be in control after opening the scoring early, taking the lead in the 13th minute and managing the contest with confidence for long stretches.
Guimarães struggled to impose themselves during the first hour, finding it difficult to break through a well-organised home defence and often forced to defend deep as Sporting pushed for a second goal.
The complexion of the night changed when Ndoye was sent on for the closing stages.
With little more than ten minutes of regulation time remaining, the striker brought fresh energy and urgency to the visitors’ attack.
Guimarães began to play with greater directness, sensing that the match was still within reach.
That persistence was rewarded deep into added time.
In the 92nd minute, Ndoye found space in the area and finished calmly to draw his side level, silencing the home crowd and igniting celebrations among the travelling supporters.
The equaliser alone would have been enough to force extra time, but the drama was far from over.
As the clock ticked beyond the 100-minute mark of stoppage time, Guimarães poured forward once more.
Sporting, visibly shaken, failed to clear their lines, and Ndoye was again on hand to pounce.
His second strike, arriving in the 101st minute, completed a breathtaking turnaround and sent Vitória Guimarães into the final.
For the Senegalese forward, it was a personal triumph of the highest order.
Making such an impact after entering so late in the contest is rare, but to do so with two decisive goals in stoppage time will ensure this performance is remembered long after the season ends.
The result leaves Guimarães just one match away from lifting the League Cup trophy, where they will meet either Benfica or Braga in the final.
Having already eliminated Porto and now Sporting, the Conquistadores will head into that showdown with renewed confidence and the belief that they can compete with any opponent on their day.
For Sporting, the defeat was a painful one, surrendering a place in the final in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
For Guimarães and Alioune Ndoye, however, the night belonged to them — a reminder that in cup football, persistence, timing and a moment of individual brilliance can rewrite the script in an instant.
