17 August 2007, by Joao Pedro

Sporting kick off new season with spanking win

Sporting 4-1 Academica

The 2007/08 Portuguese Bwin Liga kicked off tonight at Alvalade with Sporting continuing where they left of last campaign.

Goals from Derlei, Liedson, Tonel and Joao Moutinho (penalty) rewarded a sparkling display from the Lions, with Gyano netting a consolation for Academica. The win extends Paulo Bento’s team’s remarkable run to 26 competitive matches without defeat, only three of which have been drawn.

A big crowd turned up on a warm Lisbon night and the enthusiasm created by the return of the League season in Portugal among Sporting’s fans was further heightened when Joao Moutinho symbolically handed the Supercup trophy won last week against Porto to club president Sousa Franco shortly before kick-off.

But in a nervy opening spell it was the visitors who created the first clear chance of the match when a rapid counter-attack set up Lito with a good scoring opportunity on the edge of the box, but the striker ballooned his effort over the bar.

Liedson misses sitter

Four minutes later Liedson missed the first of four gilt-edged chances he would spurn throughout the match when Vukcevic played a perfect throughball but the Brazilian poked wide with just goalkeeper Pedro Roma to beat.

On 26 minutes Sporting took the lead as Joao Moutinho, Liedson and Derlei combined beautifully to set up the experienced ex-Porto striker, who made no mistake with a firm low shot into the corner of the net.

With the half-time interval approaching Sporting doubled their lead when Liedson headed a well-flighted Romagnoli free-kick powerfully into the net.

The second half saw Sporting really turn on the style and if Vukcevic and Liedson had produced better finishing the scoreline could well have become embarrassing for Academica as chance after chance was created.

It was left to central defender Tonel and captain Joao Moutinho to translate Sporting’s domination into a more realistic scoreline, while Gyano netted a fine opportunistic strike for the visitors.

Derlei answers critics

Bento will be satisfied with a highly pleasing performance from his team as they attack the conquest of the Bwin Liga. Many eyebrows were raised when Sporting bought Derlei after a torrid spell at Benfica, but his link-up play with Liedson was particularly impressive, with the pair looking like they had played together for years.

Miguel Veloso and Abel also turned in outstanding displays, while Academica will have to work hard if they want to avoid another brush with relegation.

Sporting:
Stojkovic, Abel, Tonel, Polga, Ronny, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Romagnoli (Farnerud, 71), Vukcevic (Yannick, 71), Liedson, Derlei (Adrien, 90)

Academica:
Pedro Roma, Berger (N’Doye, 46), Litos, Kaka, Orlando, Tiero, Paulo Sergio, Cris, Lito, Joeano (Helder Barbosa, 61), Ivanildo (Gyano, 46)

Goals:
[1-0] Derlei, 25
[2-0] Liedson, 44
[3-0] Tonel, 68
[3-1] Gyano, 82
[4-1] Joao Moutinho (pen), 89