Sporting CP strike in stoppage time in the Azores

Sporting CP travelled to the Azores for Liga Portugal Matchday 11, defeating CD Santa Clara 2-1 thanks to a 94th minute header from Morten Hjulmand. Pedro Gonçalves had previously scored an equaliser for the team.

They faced the traditionally demanding Azorean team, who entered the match in 11th place (on 11 points). Rui Borges made three changes to the starting XI from three days prior against Juventus FC: Iván Fresneda, Geny Catamo, and Luis Suárez returned, replacing Georgios Vagiannidis, Geovany Quenda, and Fotis Ioannidis.

The start of the match could hardly have been more punishing for Sporting CP, who conceded after just five minutes. Off a long ball, a defensive slip by Ousmane Diomande allowed Wendel Silva to approach the area, and with a well-measured cross he found Vinícius Lopes, CD Santa Clara's top scorer, who struck to make it 1-0.

Vasco Matos' team, who hadn't scored in two games and had the third worst attack in the league, started with maximum effectiveness.

Sporting CP, however, have the division’s most prolific attack, and from the quarter-hour mark they began to increase their chances. A header from Suárez, following a cross from Maxi Araújo, went just wide of the near post. Shortly after, to finish off a play through the middle, Pedro Gonçalves shot from outside the area, forcing a save from Gabriel Batista.

Maxi Araújo also rose in the area to nod the ball over the bar, and 'Pote', after a perfect break towards the area, couldn't finish another chance. However, Gonçalves did find the equaliser eventually, heading in a cross from Geny to make it 1-1. He has now scored nine goals this season, with eight in the league, where he is the joint top marksman.

Sporting CP could have taken the lead almost immediately after. Defender Sidney Lima cleared Suárez's shot off the line, after he had already taken the goalkeeper out of the equation, and then the Colombian international came close to making it 1-2 again, before his cross-shot was saved by Gabriel Batista.

For the second half, Rui Borges took off the booked João Simões and brought on another striker, Fotis Ioannidis. He was forced into another switch shortly after, as Hidemasa Morita replaced the injured Gonçalves, and Quenda came on for Geny to boost the energy on the right side of the pitch.

Among the main attempts to score again were a blocked shot by Suárez and another that went completely off-target, then Quenda cutting inside from the right and shooting low and wide.

In the last 15 minutes, Rui Borges switched things up with the introduction of Alisson Santos for Fresneda.

Suárez again couldn’t keep an opportunity on target when Gabriel Batista was caught out of position, and the goalkeeper shone minutes later by denying a persistent Ioannidis a goal with an impressive instinctive save.

The Greek striker – in an excellent position in the area – had the clearest chance to find the net in regular time, but also failed to finish.

It was then that chaos took over. CD Santa Clara’s Brenner Lucas, after threatening on a counter-attack, was fouled as he prepared to go through on Rui Silva, and Maxi Araújo was shown a straight red card.

Saving the day was captain Morten Hjulmand, who had the composure to turn things around and grab victory in the Azores at the last minute. From a corner on the right, the Dane met the ball at the near post, and with a powerful header finally made it 1-2 in the 94th minute.

Before the final whistle, the home team had Adriano sent off for protesting and Sidney Lima for a foul on Matheus Reis.

Sporting CP left with three points, continuing a perfect away record in the league before the international break – six wins in six games.

Sporting CP next play on November 22nd in the Taça de Portugal against AC Marinhense – the first of three consecutive home games to close out the month of November.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda (Alisson Santos, 76’), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões (Fotis Ioannidis, 46’), Geny Catamo (Geovany Quenda, 57’), Pedro Gonçalves (Hidemasa Morita, 57’), Francisco Trincão (Matheus Reis, 90+4’), Luis Suárez.