Sporting stroll to victory against nine-man Estrela da Amadora

Sporting 2-0 Estrela da Amadora

On a cold and rainy Lisbon night Sporting made it ten home wins on the trot as they comfortably overcame Estrela da Amadora, who had to play the final half hour with nine players after Helder Cabral and Nelson were sent off.

A goal in each half from Joao Moutinho and Liedson will have boosted the Lions’ morale as they prepare to travel to Switzerland to defend their first-let 2-0 lead in the Uefa Cup against Basel on Thursday.

Paulo Bento’s rotation policy saw Ronny, Pereirinha and Celsinho given a start, while Tiui came in for the injured Vukcevic.

Estrela enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening stages, albeit without creating any goal threat. Tonel came close to giving the hosts the lead on 10 minutes when he was first to a corner kick but his strong header flashed just wide.

Moutinho strikes

The home crowd did not have to wait long to see their team take the lead however. A long cross sailed over Liedson’s head and landed at the feet of Joao Moutinho on the edge of the box. The Sporting captain shimmied his way past one defender and sent a peach of a shot curling round Nelson into the corner of the net to put the hosts into the lead.

Sporting clearly had instructions to conserve energy as they embark on a heavy schedule of matches in the four competitions they are still involved in.

Their task was made easier five minutes before the break when Helder Cabral picked up his second yellow card for a crude challenge on Liedson and was ordered to hit the showers early.

On 55 minutes Estrela’s already difficult mission was made almost impossible as goalkeeper Nelson was sent off for bringing down Tiui after the Brazilian had rounded the former Sporting number one and was about to knock the ball into the net.

Polga stepped up to take the spot kick but blazed his effort high over the bar. Substitute keeper Pedro Alves then produced excellent saves to deny Tiui and Romagnoli, before he blotted his copybook by spilling a cross at Liedson’s feet and the Brazilian gratefully spun and knocked the ball into the empty net.

The match also served for Sporting to reintroduce full-back Pedro Silva, who played his first minutes at Alvalade after suffering a serious injury in the season-opening Super Cup encounter against FC Porto.

Paulo Bento admitted he was satisfied with the performance after the match as he now focuses 100% on Basel.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel (Pedro Silva, 68), Tonel, Polga, Ronny, Miguel Veloso, Pereirinha, Moutinho, Celsinho (Romagnoli, 45), Tiui (Farnerud, 78), Liedson
Yellow Cards: Abel (7)

Estrela da Amadora:
Nelson, Rui Duarte, Mauricio, Wagnao, Helder Cabral, Fernando, Celestino, Marco Paulo (Hugo Carreira, 45), Mateus (Pedro Alves, 55), Mendonca (Giancarlo, 78), Moreno
Yellow Cards: Helder Cabral (11 & 40), Mauricio (42)
Red Cards: Helder Cabral (40), Nelson (55)

Goals:
[1-0] Moutinho, 16
[2-0] Liedson, 76