Santa Clara threatened, but Sporting stepped up and sealed it | OneFootball

Sporting beat Santa Clara 4-2 this Friday, April 2, in a match counting for the 28th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. After the 'stroll' in Alverca before the break for international fixtures, the Lions returned to action with another three points in the bag.

Playing at the José Alvalade Stadium, Rui Borges' side could not have started in worse fashion. After three minutes, Klismahn put the visitors from the Azores ahead. Sporting were slow to respond, leveling the match in the 22nd minute with a penalty converted by Pote. From that point on, it was all Sporting: Daniel Bragança put the Lions in front in the 39th minute and Francisco Trincão extended the lead (42').

In the second half, the green and whites began to manage the result and the game became much quieter. Santa Clara had a Gonçalo Paciência goal disallowed in the 83rd minute, but they did pull one back in the 89th. Rafael Nel settled the nerves at Alvalade by scoring in the 90'+4.

With this win — their 33rd in 45 matches this season — Rui Borges' side, led by Rui Borges, now have 68 points and remain second in the Liga Portugal Betclic table. Porto (72) are in first place, having played one more game. Benfica are third with 65, also having played one more match.

The green-and-white club return to action next Tuesday, April 7, against Arsenal. The match, the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Mikel Arteta's side, will be played at the José Alvalade Stadium at 8:00 pm.

Pedro Gonçalves (1-1)

Daniel Bragança (2-1)

Francisco Trincão (3-1)

Rafael Nel (4-2)

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