They secured their first title in the competition after five previous failed attempts and became the twelfth team to win the Taça de Portugal – the first first-time winners since Beira-Mar in 1999.
Académica de Coimbra were the defending champions after defeating Sporting CP 1–0 in the previous season's final, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Benfica.
As in the previous season, the competition format was organized in a knockout system consisting of seven rounds, which preceded the final match.
The 16 teams competing in the top tier Primeira Liga enter the tournament at this stage, where they are joined by the 48 winners of the previous round.
[13] The match between Desportivo das Aves and Coimbrões was played later, on 12 December,[14] because of the delays resulting from the FPF evaluation of irregularities that occurred in the second round fixture between Operário (II) and Caldas (III).
[15] The match opposing Benfica (PL) and Desportivo das Aves (SL) was due to be played on 1 December but was rescheduled to 2 January 2013.
[16][17] Primeira Liga champions Porto were defeated by league opponents Braga, becoming the second "Big Three" club to be eliminated, after Sporting CP in the third round.
[19] Belenenses defeated Arouca in the match between the last surviving Segunda Liga teams, whereas Benfica ended the reign of defending champions Académica de Coimbra with a crushing 4–0 away win.