28 August 2006, by Tom Kundert

Deivid: comes off bench, hits two goals and… sold

Sporting 3-2 Boavista

Sporting came from behind to claim victory in an entertaining season opener against Boavista at Alvalade. Jose Manuel put the visitors deservedly ahead at half-time, but a Nani goal and a brace from Deivid gave Sporting a lead they held on to despite another fine strike from Manuel late on.

Immediately after the match Sporting announced that two-goal hero Deivid had been sold to Turkish team Fenerbahce.

Around 35,000 fans welcomed the teams out at Alvalade, the vast majority of whom were looking forward to seeing Sporting continue their impressive early-season form in which Paulo Bento’s team remained unbeaten.

But it was the lively visitors who took the initiative against a strangely subdued Sporting, and it was no surprise when Jose Manuel took full advantage of some lacklustre defending to fire Boavista into the lead. The winger intercepted a Custodio pass, skipped past Tonel and struck a viscous shot past the helpless Ricardo.

Sporting’s only real effort on goal during the first half was a tame effort from Carlos Martins.

Paulo Bento decided to shake things up at the interval and sent on Nani and Ronny for Custodio and Abel respectively. The two youngsters completely transformed the team and Sporting began to exert heavy pressure on the Boavista rearguard.

Substitutes combine

However, it was the arrival of the third substitute, Deivid, that triggered the turnaround in the result. Just five minutes after coming on the Brazilian laid the ball off invitingly for Nani, and the young winger fired a left-foot shot into the net.

Two minutes later and the stadium again exploded in joy as Deivid planted a superb header past William after a fine cross from Ronny.

Sporting continued to pour forward, but Ricardo had to be alert to prevent an equaliser two minutes from time when he managed to divert a close-range effort from Fary for a corner.

Play switched straight to the other end, and Deivid took advantage of a bad mistake by William to tap in his second and Sporting’s third of the night. However, just one minute later Jose Manuel also scored his second goal of the match, again from a powerful shot from distance.

Sporting held on to start the season with three points, and now have five days to search for a replacement striker. Ironically, Deivid leaves having played his finest match in a Sporting shirt.

Sporting:
Ricardo, Abel (Ronny, 45), Caneira, Tonel, Polga, Custodio (Nani, 45), Moutinho, Romagnoli, Martins, Bueno (Deivid, 59), Liedson
Yellow Cards: Abel (4), Liedson (88), Tonel (92), Ricardo (94)

Boavista:
William, Rosario, Ricardo Silva, Cisse, Mario Silva, Lucas (Monteiro, 74), Tiago, Kazmierczak, José Manuel, Linz (Fary, 80), Grzelak (Ricardo Sousa, 66)
Yellow Cards: Ricardo Silva (16), Grzelak (26), William (29)
Red Card: Ricado Sousa (70)

Goals:
[0-1] Jose Manuel, 17
[1-1] Nani, 64
[2-1] Deivid, 66
[3-1] Deivid, 90
[3-2] Jose Manuel, 91