Sporting beat Académica to climb into second

Strikes from Carlos Mané, Slimani and Aquilani gave Sporting a well-earned 3-1 win over Académica this Sunday evening moving Sporting up into second place in I Liga.

The game couldn’t have started better for Jorge Jesus’ side, when Carlos Mané escaped his marker after six minutes after being picked out by Adrien and calmly slotted past Lee. As expected, Sporting had possession completely under control and began steadily pegging Académica back into their defensive third. Another two opportunities to extend the lead came in the first quarter of an hour, first when Carrillo broke away down the right to set up a João Mário shot that the home keeper saved, before Jefferson scrapped paint off the post with a stringing effort from range.

A deserved second came in the 24th minute, when Carrillo again drove down the wing and put a ball across the middle for Slimani to smartly chip the Académica keeper and put Sporting two goals up.

With Sporting completely dominating the action, the hosts were given a lifeline three minutes after the half-hour mark when the referee signalled for a penalty against Adrien on Leandro Silva that Rabiola converted on. However, the goal did little to take the wind out of the Sporting sails and Ricardo Esgaio tested Lee in immediate response after taking advantage of a loose ball in the 18-yard box. The Académia keeper pulled off a half complete save, but Teo Gutiérrez was unable to keep the rebound on target. Just before the break Slimani was clearly brought crashing to the ground by João Real in the area, but the afternoon’s referee waved away a clear penalty appeal to start a sequence of events that saw Jorge Jesus sent off.

The second-half got underway with Sporting again testing their luck in attack, with Jefferson firing just high of the target from a free-kick. A third goal looked likely and João Mário could have obliged, but the Portuguese midfielder fired wired. Teo did everything right to put Sporting 3-1 ahead, but Lee made a brilliant stop to keep the difference down to just a single strike.

A battle for possession in midfield followed, but Académica’s spirited resistance finally broke in the 69th minute when Fernando Alexandre handballed for a penalty. Up stepped Adrien, but his usually calculated attempt was denied by the woodwork. Slimani was then pulled back by Fernando Alexande in the 18-yard box, this time with Aquilani called on to convert and secure the two-goal cushion.

Sporting will next be in action on the 13th of September, visiting Vila do Conde to take on Rio Ave.

Bruno Esteves named for I Liga matchday three

Bruno Esteves, 37, from the Lisbon Football Association, will take charge of Sporting’s I Liga matchday three visit to Académica.

Rui Teixeira and Valter Pereira will act as linesmen.

Académica-Sporting will get underway at 19h15 on Sunday the 30th of August, in Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.

Gelson Martins shares his thoughts with Sporting TV

Gelson Martins spoke with Sporting TV this week ahead of Friday’s encounter with I Liga new-comers Tondela.

“The week has gone well for us, the lads are motivated and we are focused on our match against Tondela. There are no easy games and we will play against Tondela like we would against any other team. We have to work hard to be ready”, opened the winger, adding: “It is always great to have the fans behind us and this will be just like it was in the Supercup final in the Algarve.”

Individually, Gelson proved happy with how he is fitting into the senior squad: “It has been going well for me and the older players have been helping me a lot. I am really happy and I feel like I have to work to show that it was worth taking a bet on me.”