Setubal outmanoeuvre Sporting again

Setubal 1-0 Sporting

Setubal once again proved to be a thorn in Sporting’s side as Carlos Carvalhal’s team beat the Lions 1-0 to bring an abrupt end to the Lisbon club’s recent resurgence.

Captain Bruno Ribeiro scored the only goal of the game on 18 minutes. Setubal had already earned a draw in the corresponding fixture at Alvalade earlier this season, and beaten Sporting by the same scoreline in the group phase of the Carlsberg Cup. The two clubs meet for a fourth time on 22 March in the final of the Carlsberg Cup.

With Sporting still involved in four competitions, coach Paulo Bento rested Romagnoli and Tiui and had to make do without the suspended Abel and the injured Vukcevic and Izmailov.

The absence of five players who would normally be automatic starters was reflected in a poor performance, with Setubal good value for their win.

The hosts enjoyed an early slice of luck however. Tonel put the ball in the net for the visitors in the 4th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside although TV replays shows the officials got the call wrong.

Patricio blunder

Sporting continued to look lively but were stunned by a goal against the run of play. Goalkeeper Rui Patricio, fresh from his best display in a Sporting shirt against Basel in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, committed a dreadful howler as he let Bruno Ribeiro’s tame shot from outside the box slip through his hands and into the net.

The visitors were forced to chase the game and Setubal were happy to soak up the pressure and hit Sporting on the counter-attack. Indeed, it was the hosts who created the better chances before the interval, with Patricio redeeming himself with an excellent stop at the feet of Bruno Gama.

The second half brought more of the same, with Sporting enjoying plenty of possession but finding it difficult to craft clear-cut chances. When they did so Setubal goalkeeper Eduardo proved an impenetrable barrier, making some fine saves and one outstanding stop from Joao Moutinho.

The win sees Setubal, enjoying their finest season in years, move into a Uefa Cup berth, while Sporting drop down to fourth with Guimaraes leapfrogging them into the final Champions League qualification spot.

Setubal:
Eduardo, Janicio, Robson, Auri, Jorginho, Bruno Ribeiro (Paulinho, 68), Elias, Ricardo Chaves, Bruno Gama, Filipe (Hugo, 90), Leandro (Bruno Severino, 60)

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Pedro Silva (Celsinho, 45), Tonel, Polga, Grimi, Farnerud (Adrien, 73), Miguel Veloso, Pereirinha, Joao Moutinho, Liedson, Purovic (Tiui, 60)
Yellow Cards: Pereirinha, Polga

Goals:
[1-0] Bruno Ribeiro, 18