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Vukcevic fires sparkling Sporting to two-goal advantage

Sporting 2-0 Basel

Sporting produced their best performance of the season to run rings around Swiss championshipship leaders Basel last night in Lisbon.

Two Vukcevic goals were scant reward for a superb attacking display, but the lead should prove sufficient to see the Lions into the last 16 of the Uefa Cup after next week’s second leg.

The early signs were far from encouraging for the home team however, as Basel threatened twice in the opening stages from corners. First the unmarked Ergic headed wide from point-blank range in the 4th minute, then Eduardo produced a fine overhead kick that brought an excellent save out of Patricio on 14 minutes.

In between the two scares Sporting mounted their first and only attack in the opening stages, and from it they took the lead. Romagnoli dribbled his way to the byeline before cutting a low cross into the path of Vukcevic and the Montenegrin’s first-time shot beat Costanzo with the aid of a deflection and nestled in the back of the net.

From the quarter-hour mark onwards Sporting began to take control of midfield, with Romagnoli and Veloso especially impressive. Midway through the half good combination play between Liedson and Romagnoli released the Argentine but the alert Costanzo raced out of his goal to smother the danger before the midfielder could get the decisive touch.

Livewire Romagnoli

Romagnoli was again at the centre of the action soon afterwards when a wonderful pass set Vukcevic racing into the box, who dribbled past two defenders and fired a firm shot towards goal that brought a sharp save out of the Basel keeper.

Abel, Izmailov and Vukcevic all threatened again before the break as Sporting built up a good head of steam. Basel suffered a blow just before the interval as the impressive Costanzo injured himself in collecting a cross and had to be replaced by Crayton.

The second half continued in the same vein with Abel and Miguel Veloso testing the nerves of the substitute keeper with rasping shots from distance that Crayton dealt with competently.

The goalkeeper then produced the first of a series of top-quality saves as another swift move released Romagnoli and the Argentine’s cross-shot seemed destined for the net before being touched past the post by the diving Crayton.

Spectacular goal

But no goalkeeper in the world could have stopped the next effort from crashing into the net. A cleverly worked throw-in saw Romagnoli and Moutinho exchange quick passes before the latter chipped the ball into the path of Vukcevic in the box. Despite being at an acute angle, the inspired Montenegrin lashed in an unstoppable left-foot volley that rocketed into the angle of post and bar for a spectacular goal.

The goal was no more than the hosts deserved and Sporting were now in irresistible form with wave after wave of attacks cutting apart the beleaguered Basel rearguard. Some excellent footwork and a well-directed snapshot from Liedson forced Crayton into a superb diving stop to divert the ball onto the post.

Liedson had the ball in the net shortly afterwards after another lightning passing move, but the strike was correctly ruled out as the Brazilian had strayed marginally offside.

Substitute Tiui then came close before Liedson was released by yet another delightful Romagnoli throughball, but the normally lethal striker lashed his shot into the side-netting and moments later the referee put Basel out of their misery by blowing the final whistle.

The only sour note for Sporting was the injury picked up by Vukcevic. The in-form midfielder dislocated his shoulder and is expected to be out of action for around three weeks.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel, Polga, Tonel, Grimi, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Marat Izmailov (Pereirinha, 71), Romagnoli, Vukcevic (Rodrigo Tiui, 72), Liedson

Basel:
Costanzo (Crayton, 44), Ba, Majstorovic, Marque, Hodel, Degen (Cabral, 64), Huggel, Ergic, Carlitos, Eduardo, Derdiyok
Yellow Card: Carlitos, 29

Goals:
[1-0] Vukcevic, 8
[2-0] Vukcevic, 61