Sporting CP beat Rio Ave 4-1 in Barcelos and snatch second spot in Liga Portugal | OneFootball

Sporting CP have reclaimed second position in Liga Portugal following an entertaining 4-1 victory against Rio Ave.

Tamble Monteiro headed wide early on in Barcelos but Rio Ave persisted and took the lead in the 12th minute. Luis Guilherme lost the ball which saw Monteiro break clear and release Diogo Bezerra who steered the ball past Rui Silva.

Francisco Petrasso was fortunate to avoid a penalty after a his forearm caught Luis Suárez in the head. The striker was bleeding but wouldn’t have to wait long to exact some revenge.

Suárez got past Petrasso on the halfway line and surged into the box where he was dragged down by the centre-back. Referee João Gonçalves issued a yellow card and pointed to the penalty spot where Suárez sent Cezary Miszta the wrong way.

Sporting took the lead before the break and didn’t have to do anything to earn it. Gustavo Mancha’s back pass evaded Miszta and rolled into the net, a comical own goal.

Rio Ave went close in added time with Monteiro forcing a save from Silva, Eduardo Quaresma diverting a dangerous cross wide and Dario Spikic firing into the side netting.

The hosts’ chances were dealt a big blow in the 52nd minute when the final chapter of the Petrazzo vs Suárez sideshow. The Argentine went in late on his nemesis and Gonçalves showed no hesitation in producing a second booking.

Rui Borges introduced Geny Catamo and Geovany Quenda in the 65th minute and the Lions made it 3-1 less than 60 seconds later. Trincão cut inside from the right wing, got past Ryan Guilherme and sent a sweet strike into the bottom corner.

Guilherme picked up two bookings in the space of two minutes to reduce Rio Ave to 9 men, the second yellow a harsh call.

Sporting put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute, Maxi Araújo sending Quenda through on goal where he sent a powerful shot past Miszta.

It was a vital victory for Sporting who reclaimed second spot on the table following Benfica’s 2-2 draw against Braga. The Lions host Gil Vicente on the final matchday, José Mourinho’s side travelling to Estoril.