What is RSS?

Postiga finds form as Sporting go clear at table summit

Sporting 2-0 Belenenses

Portugal striker Helder Postiga put in a man-of-the-match performance as Sporting beat Belenenses 2-0 at the Alvalade stadium in the opening match of the 3rd week of the Liga Sagres programme.

The former FC Porto forward scored in the 33rd minute with an opportunist strike, then won a second-half penalty that Romagnoli converted to give the Lions a straight-forward win and put them top of the table.

Sporting coach Paulo Bento was forced into one change from the team that lost in Barcelona in midweek, with injured striker Derlei making way for summer recruit Helder Postiga. New-look Belenenses, containing just two Portuguese players in the starting line-up, were looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to the campaign under Brazilian coach Casemiro Mior.

Bright start

However, it was the hosts who immediately went on the attack in search of an early breakthrough. The lively Postiga showed he was on song early with a mazy run that took him past several defenders before losing his footing as he was about to pull the trigger. Rochemback then played the forward in with a subtle chip over the defence, but Postiga blasted his volley just over the bar.

On 17 minutes Polga sent in a header that shaved the post, while the visitors produced their first effort on goal shortly afterwards but a Matheus header was easily gathered by Patricio.

The home crowd were celebrating on 33 minutes as Postiga raced onto a Yannick Djalo knock-down to slide the ball past goalkeeper Julio Cesar, and the goal stood despite suspicions of offside.

Belenenses almost hit straight back when the ever-dangerous Ze Pedro sent a rocket of the shot whistling just over the bar from 30 metres, and on the stroke of half time Porta sent a volley over Sporting’s net when in a good position to do better.

The second half started with a bang as Romagnoli found Postiga with an excellent cross-field pass and the striker showed fine footwork to skip past Maykon before being brought down by the defender for an obvious penalty. Argentine midfielder Romagnoli blasted the spot kick past Cesar to double Sporting’s lead.

Patricio shines

Sporting then opted to slow down the pace of the game and save energy ahead of the crucial double header against Benfica and FC Porto in their next two Liga matches. And only two fine Patricio saves from Silas and Mano, both times blocking point-blank strikes, prevented an uncomfortable last few minutes for the Lisbon outfit.

At the other end of the pitch there was still time for Djalo to score a goal correctly ruled out for offside and Postiga to miss horrendously after being brilliantly set up by Joao Moutinho.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel, Polga, Tonel, Caneira, Joao Moutinho, Rochemback (Miguel Veloso, 60), Romagnoli (Pereirinha, 81), Izmailov (Vukcevic, 45), Yannick Djalo, Postiga
Yellow Cards: Helder Postiga, Miguel Veloso

Belenenses:
Julio Cesar, Carciano, Alex, Matheus, Mano, Gabriel Gomez, Silas, Ze Pedro, Maykon (Vanderlei, 77), Wender (Joao Paulo, 79), Porta (Roncatto, 70)
Yellow Cards: Mano, Maykon

Goals:
[1-0] Helder Postiga, 33
[2-0] Romagnoli (pen), 49