FC Porto lose to Sporting again (2-0), final hopes dented | OneFootball

Sporting beat FC Porto 2-0 this Saturday in the second match of the Portuguese roller hockey championship semi-finals, with two goals scored in less than a minute in Lisbon.

With this result, the green-and-white side is now just one win away from reaching the championship final, having already claimed two victories in this best-of-five series after beating the same opponent at the Dragão Arena in Porto in the opening game.

This afternoon, the first half was dominated by Sporting, who went into the break leading 2-0 thanks to two quick-fire goals — Danilo Rampulla in the 19th minute and Facundo Bridge in the 20th put Edo Bosch’s team in front, a gap that remained unchanged in the second half.

That did not stop FC Porto from looking more dangerous in the opening 10 minutes, during which they created two major chances, with Carlo Di Benedetto forcing Xano Edo into a fine save and, shortly afterwards, Telmo Pinto hitting the Sporting post.

Sporting responded well to the opponent’s strong start and also had two dangerous shots, both saved by Xavi Malián, before turning 0-0 into a decisive 2-0 in just two minutes.

Just over six minutes before half-time, Facundo Bridge tried his luck from distance and was rewarded, with the shot passing through several players in front of the Porto goal and opening the scoring.

The goal boosted Sporting’s confidence and efficiency and, less than a minute later, the team scored again, this time through a penalty calmly converted by Danilo Rampulla.

Sporting went into the break ahead and, after coming back out, continued on top, with Xavi Malián preventing another goal and keeping FC Porto in the fight for the result.

The blue-and-whites improved in the second half and came close to scoring through a string of chances — Gonçalo Alves again tested Xano Edo’s alertness, and the goalkeeper responded confidently, while Hélder Nunes hit the post, just as Telmo Pinto had done in the first half.

The final 10 minutes were played at great intensity, something reflected in the blue cards shown simultaneously to Sporting’s ‘Nolito’ and FC Porto’s Telmo Pinto.

Until the final whistle, the European champions tried to reduce the deficit, but it was the Lisbon side who came closest to adding to their lead, just over a minute from time, when Nolito missed a direct free hit and struck the ‘blue-and-white’ goalpost.

Sporting and FC Porto meet again on Wednesday from 21:00 at the Dragão Arena in Porto for the third game of this semi-final.

Match played at the Pavilhão João Rocha in Lisbon.

Sporting – FC Porto, 2-0.

At half-time: 2-0.

1-0, Facundo Bridge, 19 minutes.

2-0, Danilo Rampulla, 20 (penalty)

Under referees Pedro Figueiredo and Joaquim Pinto, the teams lined up as follows:

– Sporting: Xano Edo, Gonzalo ‘Nolito’ Romero, Danilo Rampulla, Facundo Navarro and Rafael Bessa. Also played: Diogo Barata, Alessandro Verona, Facundo Bridge and Henrique Magalhães.

Coach: Edo Bosch.

– FC Porto: Xavi Malián, Edu Lamas, Carlo Di Benedetto, Gonçalo Alves and Rafa. Also played: Telmo Pinto, Ezequiel Mena, Pol Manrubia and Hélder Nunes.

Coach: Paulo Freitas.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.