Superb Guimaraes overpower Sporting

Vitoria Guimaraes 2-0 Sporting

Vitoria Guimaraes continued their dream season with a deserved 2-0 home victory over Sporting to consolidate third place in the Bwin Liga and keep their Champions League qualification aspirations very much alive.

Goals at the end of each half from Sereno and Fajardo saw the northerners move to within two points of second-placed Benfica, while Sporting are in danger of slipping down to sixth should Belenenses beat Boavista tonight.

Guimaraes, who also missed a penalty, after weathering a bright opening 20 minutes from the visitors were always the stronger side.

The hosts should have taken the lead on 34 minutes as Alan forced Rui Patricio into a sharp save and Miljan knocked the rebound wide of a gaping net. Roared on by a capacity crowd, Guimaraes sent wave after wave of attack towards the Sporting net, and on the stroke of half time were rewarded for their unceasing pressure.

Desmarets hit a free kick towards goal that Rui Patricio was unable to deal with and Sereno picked up the rebound and coolly lobbed the young goalkeeper to give the hosts a half-time lead.

Sporting had a good opportunity to equalise early in the second period when Abel’s cross found its way to Adrien, but the young midfielder, standing in for Miguel Veloso, shot high over the bar.

The Lions were wilting visibly after their Uefa Cup exertions on Thursday, and Andrezinho should have doubled Guimaraes’ lead in the 84th minute after being set up by Desmarets, but fluffed the golden chance.

One minute later and Guimaraes had an even better chance to kill the game as Grimi brought down Alan in the box to concede a penalty, picking up his second yellow card and subsequent red in the process.

Patricio saved Alan’s spot kick, but it was only a brief respite as Fajardo finished off a swift counter-attack in stoppage time to give the scoreline a more realistic look given the domination shown throughout by the home team.

Guimaraes:
Nilson, Andrezinho, Sereno, Geromel, Momha, Flavio Meireles, Joao Alves (Fajardo, 89), Ghilas (Roberto, 83), Alan, Mrdakovic (Moreno, 75), Desmarets
Yellow Cards: Ghilas, Joao Alves

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel (Miguel Veloso, 68), Tonel, Polga, Grimi, Adrien (Bruno Pereirinha, 56), Izmailov, Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli, Vukcevic, Purovic (Tiui, 6)
Yellow Cards: Tonel, Grimi, Abel, Polga
Red Card: Grimi (85)

Goals:
[1-0] Sereno, 45
[2-0] Fajardo, 90