The team take an away triumph in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal bested Moreirense FC 0-3 in their 23rd Liga Portugal game of the season, overcoming one of the breakout sides in division.

The team were missing Pedro Gonçalves for the game at the Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, and coach Rui Borges made two changes to the starting XI that faced FC Famalicão last time out: Luis Suárez, returning from suspension, joined the attack alongside Geny Catamo, with the Mozambican positioned on the right side.

Sporting CP quickly took control, comfortably establishing themselves in the home team's defensive midfield aeres. Using attacking play from the wings, Luís Guilherme and Geny Catamo created problems, but it was Francisco Trincão who had the first clear goalscoring opportunity. In the 8th minute, he found himself one-on-one with André Ferreira, forcing the Moreirense goalkeeper to make the first big save of the match.

Shortly after, Luís Guilherme broke down the left and tried his luck with a shot straight at the goalkeeper. In the 15th minute, Maxi Araújo found Trincão in the middle of the box. The Portuguese international's header was well-placed but lacked power.

Under considerable pressure, Moreirense FC only managed to create their first attacking move in the 22nd minute. Rui Silva, a mere spectator up until then, easily caught Rodrigo Alonso's shot.

With the clock approaching the half-hour mark, and a thin fog descending on the pitch, Sporting CP's difficulty in finding passing lanes persisted: in the 31st minute, Araújo broke through on the left and crossed for Catamo, but the home defence deflected it for a corner.

Just before halftime, Guilherme shot only slightly over the crossbar, then set up Suárez for a low strike inches wide of the post.

Following the interval, Sporting CP stepped up the pace again at the start of the second half and, in the 49th minute, came very close to opening the scoring: Hidemasa Morita found Guilherme on the left, the Brazilian combined with Trincão, and the Portuguese crossed into the six-yard box. André Ferreira couldn't meet the ball, but nor could any of the Sporting CP forwards, and it went out of play.

Finally, after a move down the left flank, following a recovery by Morten Hjulmand, the Luís Guilherme-Maxi Araújo combination broke through, and a delivery into the box was finished off by Trincão to make it 0-1.

The second goal was a work of art by Geny Catamo, four minutes later. The Mozambican received the ball on the line, cut inside and shot into the back of the net for one of the most beautiful goals of his career to date.

In the 64th minute, Borges brought on Daniel Bragança to replace Morita.

Moreirense FC's best opportunity of the match saw the debuting Nile John shot low and seemingly off target; however, it deflected capriciously off Morten Hjulmand, gained height and crashed against the woodwork.

Sporting CP would get their third goal in the 75th minute. After a corner kick, the ball fell to Luis Suárez, and with a first-time shot on the half-volley, he added his name to the list of goalscorers.

The Colombian made way for Fotis Ioannidis, returning to action approximately a month and a half after the injury he sustained in the Taça da Liga semifinal. The Greek came in along with Souleymane Faye and Giorgios Vagiannidis, and could even have scored in the 84th minute, after a quick counter-attack. André Ferreira made the save.
Sporting CP, who hadn't won by such a large margin since January, took the three points from their away trip. They now turn their attention to a home game against GD Estoril-Praia in Liga Portugal next Friday.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda (Giorgios Vagiannidis, 77’), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Daniel Bragança, 64’), Geny Catamo (Souleymane Faye, 77’), Francisco Trincão, Luís Guilherme (João Simões, 82’), Luis Suárez (Fotis Ioannidis, 77’).