Playing at their own stadium and backed by a boisterous support, Sporting went ahead after 29 minutes through Rogerio, but CSKA hit back to take the trophy.

Alexei Berezutskiy’s header brought them level and then goals from Yuri Zhirkov and Vagner Love sealed a remarkable triumph.

The defeat completed a miserable few days for Sporting, whose chances of winning the Portuguese SuperLiga evaporated at the weekend with defeat to Benfica.

Their coach Jose Peseiro, who was roundly booed by his own supporters when he went up to claim his runners-up medal.

It had all been so different early on.

A sense of familiarity with the surroundings probably played a part in Sporting’s dominance in the opening half.

The ‘hosts’ could have gone ahead inside the opening 60 seconds when Fabio Rochemback’s shot took a wicked deflection off CSKA skipper Sergei Ignashevich but drifted wide with visiting keeper Igor Akinfeev a nervous spectator.

Conceding that opportunity did nothing for CSKA’s obvious nerves and Sporting poured forward, displaying the kind of scintillating football which defeated for Middlesbrough and Newcastle in earlier rounds.

Sa Pinto was denied by a last-ditch block from CSKA’s overworked defence while Ignashevich had another lucky escape when his attempt to clear Rogerio Tello’s free-kick saw him head the ball narrowly over his own bar.

The breakthrough finally came in the 29th minute as Sporting’s pressure told.

Daniel Carvalho lost possession on the edge of his own area and Rogerio took full advantage to curl a wonderful shot past Akinfeev and into the top right-hand corner.

Going behind failed to prompt an immediate reaction from the Russian side and they were pushed further back as Sporting continued to mix intricate passing with a voracious work-rate.

Rogerio almost added a second five minutes before the break but his attempt to bundle through the CSKA defence, aided by Liedson, was denied by a combination of Ignashevich and Akinfeev.

Having spent the majority of the opening 45 minutes chasing shadows, CSKA sprung forward just before the break and should have equalised.

Carvalho played in Olic down the right and his cross was inch-perfect for Love to tuck away. The Brazilian was to disappoint though, only managing to scuff his shot horribly wide with the goal gaping.

CSKA’s experienced coach Valeriy Gazzaev was clearly angered by his side’s toothless performance in the first half and sent them back out early on to the pitch.

If the tactic was intended to spur his side into life, it did not work – at least not straight away.

Sporting continued to dominate and the impressive Ignashevich again came to his side’s rescue with a saving header to deny Rogerio after Akinfeev’s ill-advised dash from his line left the goal unguarded.

Sporting had a further chance after 50 minutes when Poll adjudged Ignashevich’s ball to Akinfeev to have been a back-pass. Sa Pinto’s short free-kick to Rochemback saw the former Barcelona midfielder’s shot deflected wide by a crowd of CSKA defenders.

It was to prove a crucial moment as CSKA began to show signs of attacking intent which eventually culminated in the equaliser and the turnaround.

Love almost redeemed himself for his earlier profligacy with a volley on the turn which flew inches wide of Ricardo’s right-hand post.

It was the closest CSKA had come but they went one better after 56 minutes - Berezutskiy heading Carvalho’s right-wing cross into the floor, the bounce beating Sporting keeper Ricardo.

The momentum had changed and it was to drift even further in the way of CSKA after 65 minutes.

Carvalho was again the provider with a neat through ball which was perfect for Zhirkov to run on to and he slotted his shot through the legs of the advancing Ricardo.

Sporting were stunned and CSKA revitalised – substitute Milos Krasic coming close twice shortly after his introduction for Olic.

The defining moment of the match came in the 74th minute.

Rogerio somehow failed to convert Tello’s cross-shot, the ball coming off the striker and on to the post from less than a yard out.

With the majority of the home players still in the CSKA penalty area, the Russians sprung forward on the counter and made it 3-1.

Carvalho escaped down the left and his cross was misjudged by Ricardo, allowing Love the simplest of tasks to tap into the empty net.