24 September 2007, by Tom Kundert

Sporting held by lively Setubal

Sporting 2-2 Setubal

Sporting dropped two points against Setubal in an entertaining match at the Jose Alvalade stadium last night. Elias and Matheus twice put the visitors ahead, with Joao Moutinho (penalty) and Purovic scoring the equalisers for the Lions.

With Sporting facing four matches in ten days, Paulo Bento drafted Gladstone and Farnerud into the starting line-up as Tonel and Romagnoli were rested. After a promising opening ten minutes from the home side, Setubal looked the more dangerous team, showing why they have made a solid start to the new campaign.

The speedy Matheus on the left wing and the skilful Pitbull were causing Sporting’s rearguard all sorts of problems. Three times Matheus came close to scoring, and when Elias neatly tucked a perfect throughball from Pitbull past Stojkovic on 41 minutes to give Setubal the lead, it was no more than the visitors deserved.

Paulo Bento withdrew Farnerud and Gladstone at the break, bringing on Romagnoli and Izmailov, with Miguel Veloso moving back into a centre-back position.

Romagnoli danger

The changes revitalised Sporting with the inventive Romagnoli causing panic in the Setubal defence with his penetrating dribbling. After one superb run and quick exchange of passes with Miguel Veloso the Argentine burst into the box but could not get enough power on his shot to beat Eduardo.

Ronny forced the goalkeeper into a good stop, Abel came close with a meaty shot, and Purovic should have done better when well set up by Vukcevic. The pressure finally told when Abel went on a marauding run down the right flank and was brought down in the box, with captain Moutinho dispatching the resulting penalty into the back of the net.

As Sporting continued to pour forward looking for the winner Liedson headed a Veloso cross over and Izmailov and Romagnoli both spurned excellent chances to score.

Livewire Matheus

Setubal then stunned Sporting by breaking to the other end of the pitch where the irrepressible Matheus shimmied his way past his marker and hit the back of the net with a shot from 20 metres. The ball took an awkward bounce in front of Stojkovic, but the keeper will feel he should have kept it out.

Undeterred Sporting again went on the attack looking for their second equaliser, which arrived in the 86th minute when Purovic headed home a fine Abel cross. The Montenegrin striker then had a golden chance to snatch all three points as he raced onto a pass, but with just Eduardo to beat he rolled his shot wide of the post.

Sporting will be looking to bounce back in the Bwin Liga next week as they travel to city rivals Benfica, although first they will concentrate in Wednesday’s Carlsberg Cup clash against Guimaraes. If Setubal maintain this level of performance they will surely avoid a repeat of last season’s brush with relegation.

Sporting:
Stojkovic, Abel, Gladstone (Izmailov, 45), Polga, Ronny, Miguel Veloso, Farnerud (Romagnoli, 45), Vukcevic (Yannick Djalo, 72), Joao Moutinho, Purovic, Liedson

Setubal:
Eduardo, Janicio, Auri, Robson, Jorginho, Sandro, Ricardo Chaves (Filipe, 82), Elias, Paulinho (Bruno Ribeiro, 57), Pitbull (Leandro, 62), Matheus
Yellow Cards: Auri (63), Ricardo Chaves (79)

Goals:
[0-1] Elias, 42
[1-1] Joao Moutinho, 64 (pen)
[1-2] Matheus, 78
[2-2] Purovic, 86