Sporting came painfully close to reaching the final phase of this year's NextGen Series, slipping to a harsh 1-0 defeat at the hands of Inter Milan. More than six thousand Sporting fans made the trip to Leiria for the Wednesday night fixture which ended up as what quite frankly was an undeserved loss against the Italian giants.It was a mostly well contested game, but Sporting were looking dangerous in the final third and Iuri Medeiros called the Italian keeper Di Gennaro into action after just five minutes.
Milan did try to pressure the Lions in defence, but Sá Pinto's boys were looking well drilled going forward and kept a firm hold of the game through some well supported attacks and controlled possession. Chaby had the next big chance on 37 minutes, but Spendlmofer somehow managed to scramble away the effort with an outstretched clearance that came close to resulting in an own goal.
The first goal of game came in the second half, with the visitors going ahead through a corner converted on by Mbaye completely against the run of play.
Sporting rallied and looked to have hit back quickly, but Betinho scuffed a golden chance of slotting into an empty goal after rounding the stranded Italian keeper. Iuri did actually have the ball in the back of the net shortly after, but a debatable offside decision saw his strike ruled out.
Facing elimination, Sá Pinto took a final gamble in bringing on Gael Etock for Ilori, but the Italians managed to hold on to a hard to swallow result and put Sporting out of this year´s NextGen Series.
Football – NextGen Series – quarter finals
2012-01-25
Leiria Municipal Stadium
Referee: Rui Silva
Assistant referees: Álvaro Mesquita and Bruno Trindade
Halftime result: 0-0
SPORTING: (1) Rafael Veloso; (2) Ricardo Esgaio, (3) Edgar Ié, (4) Tiago Ilori (Gael Etock (18), 60 m), (6) Michael Pinto (Mateus Fonseca (16), 84 m), (5) Agostinho Cá, (8) João Mário (cap.), (7) Carlos Mané, (10) Filipe Chaby (Edilino Ié (15), 74 m), (11) Iuri Medeiros and (9) Betinho.
Coach: Ricardo Sá Pinto.
Unused substitutes: (12) Mickael Meira; (13) Ruben Semedo, (14) Rodolfo Simões and (17) Altaír Júnior.
Inter Milan: (1) Di Gennaro; (2) Pecorini, (3) Mbaye, (4) Spendlmofer, (5) Kysela, (6) Duncan, (7) Alborno, (8) Romano (cap.), (9) Longo, (10) Bessa (Livaja (16), 71 m) and (11) Crisetig.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Unused substitutes: (12) Sala; (13) Pasa, (14) Giannetti, (17) Garritano and (18) Forts.
Cards: Yellow, Michael Pinto (48 m), Crisetig (49 m), Alborno (53 m), Esgaio (54 m), Duncan (74 m), João Mário (76 m), Livaja (81 m) and Longo (89 m).
Goal: Mbaye (56 m).
Text: Sandro Baguinho
Photos: César Santos
