Sporting 3-0 Moreirense: Trincão stars as Lions leave it late | OneFootball

Sporting were made to work hard by high-flying Moreirense before three late goals gave the Lions victory at Alvalade tonight.

The home team were always on top in a high-quality encounter, but missed a series of chances in the first half to break the deadlock, and with the well-organised and neat-passing visitors growing in confidence after the break the score remained goalless going into the final 15 minutes.

Enter Francisco Trincão, who won two penalties, netted by Luis Suárez and Pedro Gonçalves respectively, and in stoppage time substitutes Alisson Santos and Fotis Ioannidis combined, the Greek striker scoring his first goal for the Lisbon club.

Sporting move up to second in the table, three points behind leaders Porto. Tom Kundert reports from the Estádio José Alvalade.

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Sporting coach Rui Borges made three changes in relation to the Champions League victory over Kairat Almaty, recalling Zeno Debast, Ricardo Mangas and Georgios Vagiannidis to the starting lineup, Fresneda, Maxi Araújo and Eduardo Quaresma making way.

As for Moreirense, Vasco Botelho da Costa made two surprise calls, dropping goalkeeper Caio Secco for André Ferreira and also bringing in Gilberto Batista for the experienced Maracás.

The hosts looked a team in a hurry, Luis Suárez denied by a sharp Ferreira save in the opening exchanges, and the Colombian then smashing another chance toward the net but straight at the goalkeeper.

Suárez’s gets his angles wrong

All the chances were falling to Suárez, the striker looking certain to score in the 12th minute after rounding Ferreira, but from a tight angle he could not squeeze the ball in, the impressive Gilberto Batista making a goal-line clearance.

It was déjà vu in the 24th minute as the Sporting No.97 was again clean through on goal, dribbled round the goalkeeper, but this time his shot hit the outside of the post and bounced out.

Twice Luis Suárez rounded the goalkeeper, but twice he failed to find the net. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

The Lions continued to pour forward, clever combination play among Quenda, Pote, Trincão and Suárez seemingly signalling a goal at any moment. Quenda thought he’d got it shortly before the break, his overhead kick flying narrowly wide.

Having somehow survived the first-half onslaught, Moreirense grew in confidence in the second half as the chances started to dry up and the clock ticked down.

Even in the first half the visitors had strung together some neat passing moves and retained possession for a few short periods, albeit without creating anything to worry Sporting goalkeeper João Virgínia.

On 69 minutes Pedro Gonçalves surged into the box and attempted to slide his shot into the corner, but André Ferreira dived full-length to push it around the post.

Twinkle-toed Trincão

Francisco Trincão won two penalties for Sporting late in the game. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

Although not yet desperate, Sporting fans were starting to feel edgy as the prospect of dropped points became real, but in the 75th minute some fancy footwork from Trincão in the box drew a foul Landerson and the referee pointed to the spot. Captain Morten Hjulmand had missed a penalty on Thursday, and this time Suárez was handed the responsibility, the striker showing no signs of nerves and he tucked his penalty kick into the corner.

That was the last kick by Suárez who immediately made way for Ioannidis. A brilliant counter-attack by Sporting almost doubled the lead, Ferreira making a good reaction save to deny Pote.

Botelho da Costa made a triple substitution to try and salvage a point, but the game was put to bed in the 90th minute when a weaving run by Trincão into the box was halted by a Marcelo foul, Pote making no mistake with the resulting penalty.

The icing on the cake for Sporting came in stoppage time when moments after entering the pitch substitute Alisson Santos raced down the left flank, crossed hard and low for Ioannidis to smash into the net on the run.

Analysis: Sporting in rude health; Botelho da Costa one to watch

Sporting ultimately ran out easy and fully-deserved victors after an enjoyable match in Lisbon.

The champions did not make wholesale changes to the squad over the summer, with less turnover than title rivals Porto and Benfica. New recruits Georgios Vagiannidis and Luis Suárez already look like fine acquisitions, while Ricardo Mangas, Giorgi Kochorashvili and Fotis Ioannidis, although still getting used to their new surroundings and teammates, have all had their moments.

But it is the scintillating form of the ‘old guard’ of Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves and Morten Hjulmand, as well as the consistently solid showings from the likes of Inácio, Debast and Quenda that will give Sportinguistas real hope they can celebrate a third consecutive championship triumph.

Pedro Gonçalves scored his fifth goal in six Liga Portugal matches this season. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

It seems strange to say it after a 3-0 loss in a game where they could easily have conceded several more goals, but Moreirense showed why they have made their best ever start to a top-flight season, playing with personality and organisation in Lisbon tonight.

Young Guinea-Bissau centre-back Batista and Porto loanee Vasco Sousa were especially impressive, showing good positional sense and aggression to hold a fort that was under constant attack until the 75th minute.

Young manager Vasco Botelho da Costa has enjoyed significant success in his coaching career to date, and it would be no surprise to see him given a role at a club with loftier ambitions and more resources in the not-too-distant future.

Sporting 3-0 Moreirense highlights

Sporting: João Virgínia, Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 54’), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Hidemasa Morita, 54’), Morten Hjulmand, Geovany Quenda, Francisco Trincão (Alisson Santos, 90+1’), Pedro Gonçalves (João Simões, 90+1’), Luis Suárez (Fotis Ioannidis, 78’)