16 October 2006, by Tom Kundert

Tonel keeps Sporting level pegging with Porto

Estrela da Amadora 0-1 Sporting

Sporting moved joint top of the table thanks to a single goal victory at bottom club Estrela da Amadora last night. In a match played in torrential rain, a header from Tonel (pictured) on the stroke of half time was enough to give the Lions all three points.

Left-back Ronny and striker Bueno were surprise starters for Sporting, and the attack-minded defender started the match well, combining with his team-mates to good effect along the left flank.

Bueno had an early chance from a Ronny cross but the Uruguayan’s header was comfortably saved by Paulo Lopes.

On a sodden pitch and under heavy rain both teams found it difficult to string passes together. Nani and Ronny for Sporting and Tony and Jaime for Estrela all tried their luck from distance, but their shots failed to trouble the goalkeepers.

After soaking up early pressure, the home team began to cause problems for Sporting and Jones was just inches away from turning in a dangerous cross in the 36th minute.

With the interval looming Sporting almost took the lead from a corner, as Bueno and Nani forced Lopes into a fine double save. However, the goalkeeper could do nothing one minute later as Moutinho swung over another corner and central defender Tonel rose well to send the ball into the top corner of the net.

Lively Martins

Carlos Martins came on for the quiet Romagnoli at the break, and the stylish midfielder was soon causing problems for Estrela, whipping in a cross that forced Lopes into an acrobatic intervention, then testing the keeper with a thumping free kick.

In the 70th minute some magical wing play by Martins set up Bueno in front of goal, only for the striker to completely miscue his header, and seconds later Liedson was also guilty of a bad miss from a Ronny cross.

Paulo Bento brought on Caneira and Custodio for the final 15 minutes to ensure the victory, and Sporting held on comfortably for the three points despite a lacklustre performance.

Sporting now face two crucial home matches, against Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Champions League, before receiving champions Porto next weekend. Estrela next face a daunting trip to Benfica’s Estadio da Luz.


Sporting coach, Paulo Bento:
“It was a just but difficult victory, in a game that we began well but did not manage to maintain the same intensity for the rest of the first half.”

“In the second half, as we had managed to score before the interval, we tried to control the game and score the second to give us more tranquillity. We had more chances, not many it’s true, but it’s a just victory.”

Dauto Faquira, Estrela da Amadora coach:
“It wasn’t a pretty match, but at least it was competitive and intense. At the start we granted space strategically to Sporting, but we had the game under control. Their goal was the result of a series of mistakes by us. In the second half we tried to push more men forward to change the result.”

“We drew with Braga at home, but I think we played better today, the team was more incisive. But we played against the strongest team in Portugal, which is Sporting, and it was a well-fought match.”

Estrela da Amadora:
Paulo Lopes, Tony, Wescley (Edu Silva, 45), Fonte, Amoreirinha, Jordao, Tiago Gomes (Dario, 63), Marco Paulo, Jaime, Rui Borges (Luis Loureiro, 63), Jones
Yellow Cards: Jaime (11), Jordao (51), Tony (60)

Sporting:
Ricardo, Abel, Tonel, Polga, Ronny (Caneira, 74), Paredes, Romagnoli (Carlos Martins, 45), Moutinho, Nani, Bueno (Custodio, 74), Liedson

Goals:
[0-1] Tonel, 45