12 September 2006, by Tom Kundert

Caneira special gives Sporting perfect Champions League lift-off

Sporting 1-0 Inter Milan

A wonderful long-range shot from Marco Caneira gave Sporting a single-goal victory over Inter Milan in the opening match of their Champions League campaign tonight.

The result was richly deserved as Sporting’s young team proved more than a match for the star-studded Italian side throughout the match.

With Paredes and Custodio out injured Sporting coach Paulo Bento opted to play 20-year-old Miguel Veloso, usually a centre-back, in the holding role in midfield. The brave decision could not have worked out better as Veloso put in a man-of-the-match performance, nullifying the threat of returning Sporting hero, Luis Figo.

Sporting’s youngsters refused to be overawed by their illustrious opponents and settled quickly. Djalo, Nani and Liedson were proving a handful for the Inter defence and in the 16th minute the home side almost took the lead after a great run from Djalo.

Penalty shout

Playing his first competitive match of the season after serving a two-match suspension, the speedy striker went on a diagonal run from inside his own half, sweeping past three opponents before being halted by Samuel, with Sporting’s players claiming a penalty for handball.

Roared on by their fans, Sporting continued to enjoy the bulk of possession in the first half, but close to half time twice Adriano showed the danger he posed when he cleverly worked space then got on the end of a cross to head goalwards, but on both occasions Ricardo saved comfortably.

After weathering a spell of Inter pressure at the start of the second half, Sporting broke forward on the hour mark, creating two good chances to score. First Nani played a surprise pass to Romagnoli from a corner but the Argentinean shot well wide when well placed. Then Caneira and Liedson combined beautifully to set up Djalo, on the edge of the area, but again the shot was disappointingly off target.

Caneira thunderbolt

Three minutes later and the Alvalade crowd exploded in joy as Caneira put Sporting into the lead in spectacular fashion. Centre-back Tonel found his fellow defender with a superb cross-field pass. Caneira controlled the ball on his chest, knocked it past Maicon and let fly with a powerful volley that Toldo got a hand to but was unable to keep out.

Minutes later and Sporting’s task of holding on to the lead was further boosted as Vieira, already on a yellow card, inexplicably clattered into substitute Alecsandro leaving the referee no alternative but to send off the Frenchman.

Spurred on by their fans, the Lisbon club looked more likely to score a second goal than to concede an equaliser, and Liedson somehow failed to connect with an inviting Moutinho cross in the 77th minute.

Sporting had a late scare when Ibrahimovic took advantage of a slip by Abel and sent a daisy cutter inches past Ricardo’s post. Minutes later the referee blew the final whistle to guarantee three precious points for Sporting.

An obviously delighted Paulo Bento was quick to make sure his team did not get carried away with the win. “We have not won anything yet and have not yet achieved our objective in this competition. We have only achieved our objective for tonight’s match.”

When Caneira was asked how it felt beating a great team he replied: “We beat a great team because we are a great team.”

In their next Champions League outing Sporting travel to Spartak Moscow, while Inter Milan host Bayern Munich.

PortuGOAL man of the match:
Miguel Veloso – Playing out of his customary centre-back position, the defensive midfielder belied his youth with an impeccable performance in front of the back four.

Sporting:
Ricardo, Abel, Tonel, Polga, Caneira, Veloso, Nani (Tello, 81), Romagnoli (Alecsandro, 65), Joao Moutinho, Djalo, Liedson
Yellow Cards: Liedson (16), Moutinho (20)

Inter Milan:
Toldo, Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel, Grosso (Zanetti, 79), Figo (Gonzalez, 65), Vieira, Dacourt, Stankovic, Adriano (Crespo, 70), Ibrahimovic
Yellow Cards: Cordoba (27), Toldo (31), Vieira (44 & 68)
Red Card: Vieira (68)

Goals:
[1-0] Caneira, 64