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| Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:19 |
Sporting youngsters gunned down in RomeLazio 2-0 Sporting Sporting continued their unenviable record of never having won a match in Italy after losing 2-0 against Lazio tonight. A goal in each half by Kozak and Sculli gave the hosts the three points, but a youthful Sporting side, who finished the match with six Alcochete academy players on the pitch, did not disgrace themselves.Lazio progress to the knockout stage, finishing in second place in Europa League Group D, behind their Portuguese opponents. As promised, Domingos sent out a radically overhauled team, with only three first-team regulars, Onyewu, Schaars and Andre Carrillo in the starting line-up. Teenagers Tiago Ilori, Diego Rubio and Joao Mario were all given a run-out, the first two from the start, the latter as a second-half substitute. Truth be told the Portuguese side struggled in the first half. It was one-way traffic, with Cisse especially causing all sorts of problems for the left-hand side of Sporting's back four. Only some fine defensive play by Onyewu kept the Italians at bay. But in the 42nd minute the unmarked Kozak made up for hesitant finishing with two earlier chances by producing a powerful header to leave Marcelo no chance. The visitors improved significantly after the break and it became a far more even contest. Bojinov tested Lazio goalkeeper Bizzarri at the near post, but Sporting's strong start to the second half was cut short by Sculli's neat finish after a superb run and pass by Diakite. To their credit Sporting did not let their heads drop, and were unlucky not to score a late consolation as Bojinov brought a flying save out of Bizzarri from a free kick and Pereirinha's late burst and cross just evaded the onrushing Insua. Domingos will not be too disappointed with the performance and will look forward to the resumption of the competition in February, no doubt encouraged by the memory of reaching the final last season at the helm of a team with far fewer resources than the Lions. Sporting: Marcelo Boeck, Pereirinha, Onyewu (Joao Mario, 77), Tiago Ilori, Evaldo, Andre Martins, Andre Santos, Schaars (Daniel Carrico, 71), Diego Rubio (Insua, 65), Bojinov, Andre Carrillo Goals: [1-0] Kozak, 42 [2-0] Sculli, 55 by Tom Kundert |
Additionally, they have a game against Academica on Sunday. No need to be flying and tiring out all the first team players for a game that there was no need whatsoever to win, when they could be back in Lisbon training at home. The game on Sunday, on the other hand, is a MUST win if they want to keep pace with the leaders. (SLB, FCP)
Not sure what you don't buy about the responses, Domingos made the safe choice (also the right choice). There is zero consequence for Sporting not winning the game. The coefficient will bounce around during the group and knockout stages, but France will only have 2 teams in European competition after Rennes are officially out tomorrow. Portugal will have 4, shouldn't be an issue to top France.
i don't want to hear about injuries either, they can happen any time even on the practice pitch.
SCP is not a perennial third place team, let's pick a quick snapshot of time. Since 2000, SCP won the league in 2000 and 2002 and they came in second place in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Since 2000 Benfica won the league in 2005 and 2010 and were runners up in 2003, 2004 and 2011. Since 2000 Porto won the league in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and were runners up in 2000, 2001 and 2005.
If you do the math, since the year 2000, Porto has dominated, but Sporting and Benfica have nearly identical records with Sporting edging Benfica by one second place finish. Far from your "perennial 3rd place team" comment.
I also don't understand your "sporting is sporting, the culture will never change comment". Sporting's culture is great, it's a big club with a huge, passionate fanbase that evolves as a business and organization on a daily basis. All clubs have their ups and downs, and all I can see is that you are mostly concerned about UEFA coefficients (maybe your'e concerned about your team not getting a European spot) and that you clearly don't like SCP. I can just as easily make incorrect, biased comments about other clubs' cultures as well, Benfica, Porto or any other team.
As a Sporting Fan, I care alot more about them competing for the title, or at least getting second, than improving the League Coefficient by a minuscule amount.
Also, according to your logic, since SCP are a "perennial 3rd place team" the coefficient doesn't matter, because even if the coefficient improved to the point where the Liga was given an extra slot, or an extra playoff slot, and they were able to qualify for the Champions League, they'd be knocked out because, "sporting is sporting," right?
If you think that JJ, Vitor P. or any manager worth a dime would put a precarious title race at risk to help the League Coefficient in an inconsequential European game when first place in their group was already clinched, then I would also have to disagree.
ALSO - Realistically, the only country Portugal can compete with right now in terms of coefficient is France, and two French teams got knocked out today (as was widely expected), which should mean that Portugal easily passes them by the end of the season.
Although I truly wouldn't mind if SLB and FCP exhaust their best players during inconsequential European games this season in order to help the coefficient. I think their fans have something to say about it, though.
Domingos is doing a great job, the difference between Sporting today and Sporting last year or two years ago is night and day. The management took a huge gamble and invested a ton of money in transfers, but as it looks right now it is paying huge dividends. It won't happen overnight, but I feel that SCP is really becoming relevant again in terms of the Liga.
Forca Domingos
Forca Sporting
Andre Martins has been very impressive recently, but he was a little disappointing today. He played very deep in a Moutinho-esque role. While he did have a couple nice moments, he was overwhelmed by Lazio's midfielders. He seems better off as an attacking midfielder,
I have been very impressed with Andre Santos since the first time I saw him play. He wasn't at his best today, but he did show a few flashes of his obvious class. His class and composure on the ball reminds me of one of my favorite players, Andrea Pirlo. He definitely has the potential to be a world class midfielder in a few years.
I too was hoping to see Betinho get some playing time, but he is still very young. Hopefully Sporting will give him a chance to make the first team. I would love to see he and Wilson Eduardo.
At the moment the seleccao has 2 average strikers, but we currently have many bright prospects like Nelson Oliveira, Wilson Eduardo, Rudy, and Betinho. Hopefully Paulo Bento gives them a chance.
The decision to field a weaker side is not indiciative of a rotten culture at Sporting, but a rational and intelligent decision that any sane club would make.
It is absolutely imperative that a club like Sporting uses these chances to give their youth and reserve players a run out, otherwise it create disharmony unhappy players and no growth.
Trying to win so as to improve you're coefficient is an unnecessary distraction for the players.
This was a perfect opportunity for Sporting to do just as they did. Domingos well done.
Their into the next round and thats when they should be focussing on winning with the added benefit of improving their coefficient
a sporting win could have knocked out an italian team. the italian league isn't too far ahead of the portuguese league in the coef standings.
this is why sporting is sporting. the culture at that club will never change