Advantage Sporting after 1-0 victory over Porto in Taça de Portugal semi-final first leg | OneFootball

Luís Guilherme, like most of the attacking players on both sides, was largely kept in check (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©) 

In a hard-fought match of few chances, a second-half Luis Suárez penalty proved the difference between Sporting and Porto in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final in Lisbon tonight.

The victory keeps Sporting’s hot streak going, the Lions winning 10 and drawing one of their last 11 matches in all competitions. Whether or not it will be sufficient to make it to Jamor for a second successive year will only be known after the second leg played at the Estádio do Dragão on 22 April. Tom Kundert reports from Alvalade.

Sporting coach Rui Borges chose the exact same XI as for the 3-0 triumph over Estoril on the weekend, while his opposite number Francesco Farioli made wholesale changes, including full debuts for recent signings Seko Fofana and Terem Moffi.

Maxi Araújo and William Gomes fought out an intense battle all night at Alvalade (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

The first half was hugely forgettable. A series of stoppages for injuries (leading to 10 minutes of stoppage time!) and a stodgy midfield battle of little interest ensued bar a feisty South American duel between Sporting left-back Maxi Araújo and Brazilian winger William Gomes, with the Brazilian mostly getting the better of the Uruguayan. The ascendency would be reversed in the second half.

Porto right-back Alberto Costa was fortunate to escape a second yellow card when he took out Geny Catamo with a wild scything tackle, but the referee let it pass.

As for goalmouth action, nothing to report as Rui Silva and Diogo Costa were merely spectators in the first 45 minutes.

Both teams denied by woodwork

The second half started with the bang. Sporting’s defence stood off Alan Varela as he edged towards the box and he needed no second invitation to smash a fierce low shot that beat Rui Silva and thudded back into play off the inside of the post.

Porto’s Alan Varela, here tussling for the ball with Geny Catamo, was unlucky to see a long-range shot come back off the post (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©) 

Close to the hour mark it was Sporting’s turn to rue their back luck. Luis Suárez embarked on a terrific dribble into the box, his low cross almost leading to a goal as Fresneda’s effort hit the post.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Porto though, as from the resulting scramble Hjulmand was tripped by Fofana in the box for a penalty to Sporting.

In the recent Liga meeting between the two teams Luis Suárez had scored from the spot at the second attempt after Diogo Costa had saved his initial shot, and the two protagonists faced each other once again. This time though, the Colombian sent Costa the wrong way to trigger jubilation among the majority of the 50,000-strong crowd at Alvalade.

Gabri Veiga and Morten Hjulmand were constantly in the thick of the action (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

Any hopes the goal would open up the cagey nature of the game proved unfounded as chances continued to be at a premium at both ends of the pitch and there was no addition to the scoreline.

All to play for in Porto in April, with the Lions starting with a narrow advantage, but for now both teams will quickly regather and prepare for crucial Primeira Liga matches at the weekend with just four points separating them at the top of the table. Sporting travel to Braga on Saturday while Porto return to the Portuguese capital on Sunday to take on Benfica.

Sporting 1-0 Porto highlights