[6][7] Marinho's fourth-minute goal was enough for Académica to claim their second Taça de Portugal in their history after their first cup triumph came in the inaugural edition of the competition in 1939.
[8] As Académica won the cup competition, they went on to play Porto in the 2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in August 2012.
[9][10] Académica would also guarantee European football were they qualified directly for the group stage of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League by winning this competition.
Prior to this match, Académica de Coimbra and Sporting CP had previously met sixteen times in this competition.
[14][15] Académica's last victory over Sporting was a league game fixture on the 6 February 2010, where the estudantes defeated the Lisbon side 2–1.
As the game drew to a close with Académica in the lead, Porto's manager Vítor Pereira brought on two attacking-minded players in James Rodríguez and Kléber to try to get an equalizer for the visitors.
The match began with an early goal from Éder, which was cancelled out six minutes later as Jorge Pires equalized for Aves.
[22][23] For the semi-finals, Académica were drawn against the lowest ranked team still active in the competition, Oliveirense of the Liga de Honra.
The game which took place at the Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho saw Sporting defeat the second division side comfortably with two goals from Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Just like the previous rounds, Sporting defeated their opponents comfortably with goals from Van Wolfswinkel and Stijn Schaars.
On 60 minutes, Sporting were awarded a penalty after Marítimo's Igor Rossi fouled Van Wolfswinkel in the box.
Rossi would be red carded, and Van Wolfswinkel would convert from the penalty spot to double Sporting's lead.
Following the break, André Carrillo and Diego Capel would come on for Sporting to provide more attacking threat for the Lisbon side.
Sporting would tie the game in injury time after Stijn Schaars' free kick would be drilled across the box, where a slight deflection would take the ball into the net.
For the final, Baptista was assisted by José Ramalho of Porto and Hernâni Fernandes of Setúbal, while the fourth official was Tomás Santos of Braga.
Both Diogo Gomes and Pape Sow missed the game due to sustaining injuries in the build-up to the match.
[40] Initially, Académica's David Simão was ineligible to play in the final due to picking a consecutive amount of yellow cards in domestic league action.
Sporting's influential talisman Marat Izmailov recovered in time for the match after missing the last five domestic league games.
[43] Just like Académica's David Simão, Sporting's Daniel Carriço had his suspension overturned in order to play in the cup final.
Marinho's header saw him capitalize from Sporting's defensive mistake, as he was picked out unmarked in the box when the cross was delivered.
Following the break, the second half began with Sporting on the back foot following two clear-cut chances by Portuguese striker Edinho, who failed to beat Patrício one-on-one.