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Strong second-half showing drives Sporting to victory

Sporting 2-0 FC Basel

Sporting beat FC Basel at Alvalade last night to obtain their first Champions League points of the season.

After a poor first half Paulo Bento’s team dominated the second period and goals from Romagnoli and Derlei gave the Lions a straight-forward 2-0 victory against the Swiss outfit.

Chances were at a premium in a largely forgettable opening half . Derlei and Tonel headed wide from corners and a Rochemback free-kick whistled just wide, while at the other end of the pitch Strella fired wildly over the bar when well placed.

Moments before the break Derlei pounced on a Ferati mistake to fire a volley towards the net, forcing Costanzo into a sharp save.

Paulo Bento brought on Vukcevic at the interval for the out-of-sorts Rochemback who had picked up a knock, and the Lions started the second period in far more determined fashion.

Moutinho magic

In the 48th minute Moutinho produced a piece of magic with an acrobatic overhead kick into the box. Derlei got on the end of the cross and saw his header thud against the post with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Sporting further intensified the pressure on the Swiss team and were rewarded with the breakthrough, albeit in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Vukcevic combined with Romagnoli and as the Argentine dribbled into the box an attempted clearance from Abraham bounced off a combination of defender Zanni and the Sporting midfielder’s shin and looped over the keeper into the net.

Romagnoli almost got his second in more conventional manner moments later when his powerful shot from 25 metres was turned around the post.

The visitors, who had been completely inoffensive up until the goal, at last began to come out of their shell, and Sporting fans breathed a huge sigh of relief in the 62nd minute when Huggel was clean through on goal but Patricio came up with an excellent stop to keep his team’s lead intact.

Derlei danger

Sporting then came desperately close to doubling their lead three times in quick succession. First substitute Djalo’s fine lob forced Costanzo into an athletic diving save to tip the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner Derlei headed against the crossbar, and the Brazilian had the ball in the net moments later, only for the effort to be correctly ruled out for offside.

With five minutes remaining the game was made safe with the ever lively Derlei getting a deserved goal. Romagnoli was the architect, threading a wonderful pass through to the veteran Brazilian, who coolly chipped over Costanzo to seal the win.

The victory moves Sporting into joint second in the group with Shakhtar Donetsk, against whom they play their next two matches, in all likelihood to determine who joins Barcelona in the knockout stage of the competition.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Anderson Polga, Grimi, Miguel Veloso, Rochemback (Vukcevic, 46), Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli (Pereirinha, 87), Derlei, Helder Postiga (Yannick Djalo, 72)
Yellow Cards: Grimi, Veloso, Tonel

FC Basel:
Costanzo, Zanni, Abraham, Ferati, Safari, Huggel, Gelabert (Engic, 60), Gjasula, Carlitos, Chipperfield (Perovic, 82), Streller (Mustafi, 79)
Yellow Cards: Streller

Goals:
[1-0] Romagnoli, 55
[2-0] Derlei, 86