The second half substitute scores late in the second half

Sporting CP defeated FC Famalicão 1-0 on Liga Portugal Matchday 22, with Daniel Bragança scoring the winning goal of the game in the 82nd minute. The victory keeps everything unchanged at the top of the table, meaning that Rui Borges' Lions (55 points) are four points behind leaders FC Porto (59) and three ahead of SL Benfica (52).

Borges made two changes to the starting eleven from the Clássico against FC Porto, replacing Geny Catamo and the suspended Luis Suárez with Ricardo Mangas – as a full-back, with Maxi Araújo moving up to the attack – and Luis Guilherme. Answering the conundrum regarding the forward line, Pedro Gonçalves was moved to centre-forward, with youngster Rafael Nel also coming into the squad.

Sporting CP caused the first scare of the game, after a dangerous cross that went unchallenged and a touch by Hidemasa Morita that was blocked, but FC Famalicão had the ball in the net first: In the eighth minute, Ibrahima Ba took the ball from Maxi Araújo and unleashed a powerful shot. The goal was disallowed for a foul on the Uruguayan.

In an immediate response, Maxi entered the area and shot straight at Lazar Carević, the FC Famalicão goalkeeper. It wasn't until near the half-hour mark that Sporting showed more attacking sharpness and began to put their opponents on the back foot. Their combinations improved, and Francisco Trincão carved out space for a cross-shot that went wide. Maxi also struck off-target shot shortly after from a central position. Ricardo Mangas then had the best opportunity up to that point, but his finishing touch hit the post.

A frenetic series of minutes at Alvalade was suddenly followed by a very dangerous warning from FC Famalicão's Hugo Oliveira. Forward Simon Elisor slipped behind the defensive line and, completely isolated, shot wide in a one-on-one situation with Rui Silva. Sporting CP, wasting no time, responded immediately, releasing Luís Guilherme down the right wing. The Brazilian, inside the area, forced Carević to parry away his attempt for a corner.

From Luís Guilherme's free-kick into the area, Morten Hjulmand headed slightly over the crossbar and, subsequently, 'Pote' worked the ball into the area but missed the goal with his shot. Before that, he picked up his fifth yellow card in the league this season, and will miss next weekend's game.

At the start of the second half, a scramble in the opposition area could have given Sporting CP a chance on goal, but neither Mangas' deflection nor Maxi's subsequent shot led to a change in the scoreline.

Rui Borges' men continued to relentlessly pursue a breakthrough, and the coach made a change in the 62nd minute, bringing on Geny Catamo for Mangas. More than ten minutes later, he brought on Rafael Nel – making his first senior appearance this season – and Daniel Bragança for Morita and Fresneda.

FC Famalicão team no longer ventured forward and increasingly retreated into their own half. Sporting CP's crosses continued, but did not bear fruit until a corner kick in the 82nd minute: Trincão placed the ball to the near post, where Bragança rushed in to head home and make it 1-0.

Georgios Vagiannidis and João Simões came on – replacing 'Pote' and Luis Guilherme – to rebalance the team. The score remained the same, and led to Sporting CP's 13th consecutive victory at Alvalade -the the third-best streak of all time, behind only the 15 wins under Joseph Szabo (1953/1954) and the 16 under Mário Lino (1973/1974).

In the next fixture for the side, Sporting CP play Moreirense FC on Saturday evening.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda (Rafael Nel, 75’), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Geny Catamo, 62’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Daniela Bragança, 75’), Luís Guilherme (Georgios Vagiannidis, 85’), Maxi Araújo, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves (João Simões, 85’).