Reaction to the hard-fought victory in extra time against AFS

At the end of the cup tie against AFS, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges reviewed the 3-2 win.

Achieving the objective despite needing extra time
"It's mission accomplished, that's for sure. It was a competent game until we made it 2-0, then we entered a collective state of relaxation and AFS, in two fortuitous moves, won two penalties and ended up believing a different result could be possible. Then, we entered a mental block, with several misplaced passes. Football, perhaps, is beautiful for that reason: it changes a lot and changes quickly. We put ourselves in a vulnerable position, but we also have to give credit to the opponents."

Impact of the 30 extra minutes on the upcoming league fixture 
“The players will be more tired in the coming days, but that won't be an excuse for our performance in the Clássico. We will arrive in top form to play a game with a different intensity. I believe it will be an important game, but not a decisive one. The pressure and motivation of playing a Clássico will outweigh the 30 extra minutes today.”

The return of Nuno Santos
“Above all, I'm happy to see him returning to the team after such a long break. It's fantastic for me, for his teammates, and for the fans. He's far from at his best, but we'll help him. He'll get there, but he needs time and patience to understand that. He can play as a full-back or as a midfielder and he's another player who will add a lot of quality and, above all, a lot of competitiveness.”

Several options in the squad for the wing position
“The players have to show me how prepared they are to respond. I like that they know how to play on both sides, because football nowadays is more unpredictable. Above all, I have more solutions with different characteristics. I'm happy that everyone is switched on and able to respond.”

Assessments of the standings before the Clássico
“I don't look backwards, only forward. We will do everything to win that game, but it's not decisive because there are many games left. We finished eight points ahead of second place in 2024/2025 and dropped nine points. All the games will be very difficult. For me, it's not a decisive game, but it's an important game.”

Geny Catamo decides the game against AFS in extra time (3-2)

Sporting CP's earned a 3-2 win over AFS after extra time, moving on in the Taça de Portugal.

A first goal from new signing Luís Guilherme and an own goal by AFS paved the way for a victory which seemed straightforward, but two penalties put the opposition back in contention and forced extra time. The solution for Sporting CP came from the bench, with Geny Catamo scoring the winner in the 117th minute.

To overcome João Henriques' struggling AFS, bottom of the league and still without a win, coach Rui Borges opted for a starting XI full of changes compared to the side fielded at home against CD Nacional: Only Eduardo Quaresma, Luís Guilherme and Luis Suárez retained their spots, joined by new faces including the return to the starting lineup of Gonçalo Inácio, Morten Hjulmand and Francisco Trincão, and also the inclusion of João Virgínia, Georgios Vagiannidis, Ricardo Mangas, Giorgi Kochorashvili and Daniel Bragança. Nuno Santos began the game on the bench, and in the 77th minute, at Alvalade, made his long-awaited return to action for the first team for the first time since October 26th, 2024.

From the beginning, Trincão and Luís Guilherme – on the left and right, respectively – began to give options in attack, but neither of them could find a target for their low crosses. The two wingers were also the protagonists with Sporting CP's first shots, and while the Brazilian's effort was blocked, the Portuguese international's effort went wide.

AFS showed more accuracy, creating cross-shot opportunities for Guilherme Neiva and Leonardo Rivas with just a few touches, but both shots went straight to goalkeeper Virgínia. 

As the half-hour mark approached, Sporting CP stepped on the gas and took a 1-0 lead.

First, Simão Bertelli denied Suárez, who had brilliantly feinted past the last defender to break into the area, but on the very next move the ball ended up in the back of the net, thanks to a moment of quality. Hjulmand passed to Luís Guilherme, and the he cut inside from the right and shot beyond the goalkeeper's reach for his first goal for the club.

Having secured the lead, Sporting CP remained completely in control and picked up the pace near halftime. A beautiful combination between Suárez and Trincão played through the Colombian striker, who was bested by Simão Bertelli, and on the rebound the AFS goalkeeper put the ball against the post. Suárez headed back into the heart of the penalty area, and it was Kochorashvili who struck the woodwork with a resounding thud.

Shortly after the restart, in the 49th minute. Luís Guilherme combined with Mangas, who ran into the area on the left. His low cross ended up finding a deflection off the defender, despite Suárez's attempted backheel, to send the ball in and make it 2-0. 

Suárez then tried an artistic flick, and the ball didn't go far from the target.

Although the game was completely under control, a slipup in the defense opened the way for a rare AFS attack that culminated with Hjulmand going to ground to block a dangerous shot. The referee reviewed the images, called a handball by the Sporting CP captain and awarded a penalty, which was promptly converted by Pedro Lima.

Borges made the first substitutions, bringing on 'Pote' and João Simões for Bragança and Kochorashvili.

On 77 minutes, a resounding standing ovation from the entire stadium was given, as Nuno Santos returned to Alvalade. The number 11 was immediately active, and Pedro Gonçalves's finish to his well-measured cross went just over the bar.

New signing Souleymane Faye also added more minutes to his playing time, coming off the bench.

The match continhed without incident until practically the final whistle, when a second VAR review thwarted the plans. Another penalty was awarded to AFS, this time for a foul by Vagiannidis, giving the experienced Nené the chance to convert and make it 2-2.

During stoppage time, there was a great chance for each side: Oscar Perea and João Simões both lacked success in their finishing. 

In extra time, Maxi Araújo was introduced in place of Mangas. Sporting CP came out strong and Suárez even found the net, but the goal was immediately disallowed for offside. Before the 105th minute, the Colombian also threatened with a header, but a defender cleared the attempt.

Geny Catamo was Rui Borges' final roll of the dice from the bench. He only failed to have an immediate effect because Suárez could not quite turn in the Mozambican's superb assist.

Simão Bertelli made saves from Simões and Suárez, but the goalkeeper could do nothing about Geny Catamo's winning strike, after he snaked from right to left and pulled the trigger.

Sporting CP now move on to the semifinal stage of the Taça de Portugal, facing FC Porto across two legs.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GK], Georgios Vagiannidis (Geny Catamo, 106'), Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 95'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Giorgi Kochorashvili (João Simões, 68'), Luís Guilherme (Souleymane Faye, 87'), Daniel Bragança (Pedro Gonçalves, 68'), Francisco Trincão (Nuno Santos, 77'), Luis Suárez

The coach talks up his side after the win against AFS

After the impressive 6-0 win at home to AFS, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges analysed the performance in his post-match press conference.

Analysis of the game
“The team were competent and gave the same response we have been giving as of late, even with some changes. Apart from the first 15 minutes, which were very tepid with AFS trying to slow the game down, and the last 15 minutes, where we made many errors with our passing, the team were competent and dynamic. We broke through with the first goal and then always went in search of more.”

Sporting CP being the best team playing in Portugal
“I'll leave that to you to decide; for me, my team are always the best. In my opinion, we are the best and we have shown that we are the best, but we are not in first place in the league, so maybe someone is better than us.”

The impressive result
“This comprehensive win only gives us only three points. We can't get too carried away in that aspect. It could be difficult to get the team to 'switch on' after two games of maximum pressure, when we are at home against the bottom placed team; mentally, that could be a difficult part, and perhaps the changes we made were important in that sense. The guys did very well and had high energy to keep focused.”

Diomande and Geny Catamo
“In principle, they won’t be available on Thursday. I'll field whoever I have available, and we will be competitive. I have to be like that. I want to win, very much. I'm calm about that. I wish I had everyone to choose from; I don't, but with whoever I have, I'll win.”

Several players' good form
“Luis [Suárez] is having a good start to the season, but he's also doing well because the team are doing well. Geny scored two goals. Maxi, who was playing in a different position, also scored twice. So above all, I value the collective -and then one or two players are standing out. It's a sign that everyone is on the same page and it shows the collective growth of the team.”

Possible renewal for Matheus Reis
“I don't put myself in that role much, it's more a job for the club -and they know what we want for the future of Sporting CP. Matheus has been a very important player and will continue to be so, not only for his experience, but also for his character and the energy he brings when he plays. He is a very important player in the group and someone we all like very much.”

Ioannidis and Suárez together in attack
“We're trying and training some different things, but whoever plays, I think they'll respond well. Maxi responded, Alisson too, as did Quenda when he played. Fotis, if he plays, will respond. Above all, the important thing is to feel that they want to help and understand what they have to do in each position. That makes me happy.”

The evolution during almost a year in charge
“Clearly, I am a better coach now, and clearly, Sporting CP are a better team, because the team has more of my mark and we’ve spent more time working together. The future will tell. I came here for a huge challenge, it made me grow and I feel that I have evolved a lot.”

Maxi Araújo playing further up the pitch
“He brings something different there. We know he really pushes the defensive line, makes diagonal runs, he's very aggressive, and we needed that. Maxi gives us that, he scored because of that, and it was important to have him getting into the box. With small details, we wanted to create overflows and make AFS's defensive line uncomfortable, and fortunately we managed to do that.”

Gonçalo Inácio's substitution at halftime
“It was to manage the game, because he wasn't one hundred percent fit, and besides, we're going to lose Diomande to the AFCON, and we didn't want to take that risk.”

The absence of Morten Hjulmand
“He was out because he was sick. Iván [Fresneda] too. Luis has already been out. Let me talk about Morten, because he gave another demonstration of what it is to be a leader. Maybe he could have played, but he told me: ‘coach, I’m not at one hundred percent, I have teammates who are better equipped than me and it’s better to have someone who is one hundred percent fit. It clearly demonstrates his respect for his teammates, for the team, and his ambition.”

The team win 6-0 against the league's basement side

Sporting CP had one of their best showings of the season to date on Liga Portugal Matchday 14, thrashing AFS 6-0 at home. Three goals in a devastating five-minute span from Luis Suárez, Maxi Araújo and Geny Catamo put them on track, and this was followed up by all three scoring their second goals of the game in the second half.

Bottom of the table AFS side had only three points and no wins to their name, and just one point earned away from home. Rui Borges made a total of six changes to the Sporting CP starting lineup to face them: Georgios Vagiannidis, Gonçalo Inácio, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Hidemasa Morita, Ricardo Mangas – as a full-back with Maxi Araújo ahead of him – and Francisco Trincão, returning from injury, were starters in place of Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, Matheus Reis, Morten Hjulmand, João Simões and Alisson Santos -who had begun the game against Bayern Munich.

Before the opening whistle, there was a minute of silence and applause in memory of Ernesto Figueiredo, one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of Sporting CP, a two-time Liga Portugal winner and also one of the heroes of the 1963/64 Taça das Taças.

Sporting CP began the game assertively and with great quality in their combinations, and only needed three minutes to threaten João Gonçalves' goal with an attempt by Luis Suárez that went straight at the goalkeeper. Moments later, they were initially awarded a penalty -which was overturned after VAR check.

From two mid-range shots, Trincão culminated a beautiful collective move with a strike that went just wide of the post, then drew a save from the opposing goalkeeper.

Geny Catamo appeared at the far post with a cross that forced João Gonçalves into a tight save, before a flood of goals arrived when the half-hour mark was reached.

After an AFS counterattack in which Óscar Perea was denied by Rui Silva, Sporting CP showed ruthless effectiveness.

It all started with a powerful shot from Suárez, from outside the area. It deflected off defender Devenish and left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

In quick succession, Maxi Araújo appeared unmarked in the area to finish off Vagiannidis' run and subsequent cross.

Geny Catamo then took advantage of a loose ball from a corner to set up a shot on his right foot, drilling low to make it 3-0. All three goals came in a five minute spell.

At halftime, Sporting CP made a change, as Matheus Reis came on for Gonçalo Inácio.

Goal number four came two minutes after the restart, as Maxi Araújo got his first brace for the club. He surged down the left, passed inside to Suárez, who opened up play on the opposite side to Vagiannidis, and the Greek delivered a perfect pass for the Uruguayan to tap in.

Suárez then threatened twice more, before finally adding to his tally. A knock in at the back post off a corner took the scoreline to 5-0, and established him as the league's top scorer – 11 goals in the league, 14 in all competitions.

Immediately, Rui Borges made another change, bringing on Eduardo Quaresma and Fotis Ioannidis, and later João Simões and Alisson Santos were also introduced.

AFS, who were already decimated, had a tame attack, with Pedro Lima shooting and Rui Silva easily catching the ball.

Entering in the last 15 minutes, Kochorashvili also tried his luck with an effort from outside the area, which was met by João Gonçalves. Alisson had two shots go wide and another two be saved.

Aves' final chance of note was from Tomané, who found himself unmarked in the area and headed the ball towards goal -but Rui Silva made another safe save.

In the last move of the game. Geny Catamo slipped down the right and, in front of goal, took the opportunity to score his second goal.

With a resounding 6-0 victory, Sporting CP extended their unbeaten run to ten games in the competition.

Rui Borges’ men still have two more away games scheduled before Christmas, the next one coming on Thursday in the Azores. They will play a Taça de Portugal tie against CD Santa Clara.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Georgios Vagiannidis, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio [C] (Matheus Reis, 46’), Ricardo Mangas (Eduardo Quaresma, 55’), Giorgi Kochorashvili, Hidemasa Morita (João Simões, 72’), Maxi Araújo (Fotis Ioannidis, 55’), Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Luis Suárez (Alisson Santos, 72’)