Estrela da Amadora 0-1 Sporting: Bragança goal piles pressure on Porto | OneFootball

Sporting midfielder Daniel Bragança has enjoyed a renaissance since his return from injury. (Photo: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

A second-half strike from Daniel Bragança was enough for Sporting to beat Estrela da Amadora on Saturday night and cut the gap to leaders Porto to just two points.

From the moment Rui Borges took the reins at Sporting one of his catchphrases has been: “when the team lacks inspiration, it can never lack attitude.”

He repeated the mantra in his post-match comments, admitting that his charges had not put in a great performance, but the crucial objective of obtaining the three points had been achieved.

In a game of few chances, Francisco Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves missed presentable opportunities for the visitors in a low-key first half.

Quality goal decides it

The match was decided by one moment of real quality as Geny Catamo found Trincão in the box with a superb pass, the Portugal international turning and feeding Bragança at the top of the box who produced a crisp low shot into the corner of the net.

It was Bragança’s fifth goal since returning from the second long-term injury of his career at the start of the calendar year.

Defences continued on top with little goalmouth action. Sporting substitute Geovany Quenda, making his return from four months out of action, had a sight at goal but showed his rustiness as he hesitated and was crowded out, while Catamo was unlucky to see a spectacular long-range shot crash off the bar.

Estrela ended strongly with Rui Silva producing a sharp save from a deflected Max Scholze shot and the hosts also complaining about a possible penalty for a Max Araújo handball that the referee ignored.

Langa and Marcus impress

The Amadora outfit remain just three points above the relegation playoff spot, but showed enough about them in this match to suggest they will avoid the drop, defender Bruno Langa and midfielder Abraham Marcus putting in eye-catching displays.

For Sporting, the team now enters a decisive phase of the season with the next three matches against Arsenal (Champions League), Benfica (Primeira Liga) and Porto (Portuguese Cup) likely to define the Lions’ season.