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| Thursday, 05 April 2012 21:08 |
Wolfswinkel and Patricio see Sporting into the Europa League semi-finalsMetalist 1-1 Sporting (agg. 2-3) Sporting drew 1-1 in Ukraine against Metalist tonight to secure their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they will play Spanish side Athletic Bilbao. Ricky van Wolfswinkel put the Lions ahead on the night on the stroke of half time. Cristaldo equalised in the second half for the hosts, who then had a penalty saved by Rui Patricio who put in another magnificent display for the Portuguese side.
In the absence of the suspended Daniel Carrico, the injured Rinaudo and the ineligible Elias, Sporting coach Sa Pinto pulled off a surprise with his starting XI, drafting in talented Portuguese midfielder Andre Martins for a rare start in an apparently attacking line-up. Whether or not that was the intention, in practice it was the hosts who took control of proceedings from the outset, dominating the first half. Two early headers, one drawing a save out of Patrico, the other looping over the bar, served warning that Sporting could be in for a difficult night. For all their possession Patricio was first called into serious action on the half hour mark, beating away an angled drive from Cleiton Xavier. Danger-man TaisonAs at the Alvalade in the first leg, the hugely impressive Taison was the instigator of most of Metalist’s most dangerous moments. The Brazilian was close to breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute as he skipped past Polga and Xandao. Bearing down on goal he looked certain to score, but shot too close to Patricio who made an excellent stop with his legs.
Save a weak Joao Pereira shot, Sporting had been completely inoffensive, but on the stroke of half time the Portuguese side struck a crucial blow to the hopes of the Ukrainians. Diego Capel picked up the ball on the left corner of the box and floated a wonderful cross onto the head of Wolfswinkel, who made no mistake with a well directed header across goalkeeper Goryainov and into the net. Instead of requiring one goal to take the lead in the tie, Metalist now had to score two to force extra time. There seemed little chance of that as Sporting played out the first ten minutes of the second period without alarm. But a fine combination between Devic and Cristaldo led to a goal for the latter in the 57th minute and suddenly it was game on again. With the capacity crowd urging the home team on, Metalist were now asking serious questions of the Sporting defence. Patricio saved superbly from a rasping Xavier shot but as the ball ballooned intot the air Insua was adjudged to have fouled Devic for a penalty. Patricio saves penaltyUp stepped Xavier, who had beaten Patricio from the spot last week at the Alvalade. This time the Portugal number one won the duel, saving with his legs to keep Sporting’s noses in front in the tie.
The penalty miss proved pivotal as Sporting gradually took the sting out of the tiring Metalist attacks, aided in no small measure by substitutes Renato Neto, Andre Santos and Evaldo, all of whom contributed positively after coming on. Metalist resorted to pumping crosses and long balls into the box, but after what seemed like a never-ending period of stoppage time, the referee blew his whistle for the final time to trigger wild celebrations among the Sporting players and coaching staff. Sporting are in the semi-finals of a European competition for the fifth time in their history. They will play Basque side Athletic Bilbao in Lisbon in the first leg on 19 April, with the decisive match in Spain one week later. by Tom Kundert Sporting: Rui Patricio, Xandao, Insua, Joao Pereira, Polga, Capel (Evaldo, 83), Andre Martins (Andre Santos, 72), Matias Fernandez (Renato Neto, 60), Schaars, Wolfswinkel, Izmailov Goals: [0-1] Wolfswinkel, 45 [1-1] Cristaldo, 57 |
You guys who see the light are absolutely correct. This discussion should be about SPC and this triumph that helps turn around an otherwise dismal season, and nothing else. Leave Porto and Benfica out of it. One or two mental midgets always have to ruin it, sorry I took the bait yesterday. BTW, you should have read the comment on the Benfica thread that they refused to print, LOL!
Absolutely, I would like nothing more than to see SPC triumph in the Europa against all odds and raise that trophy! Such a win would go a long way towards putting Portuguese soccer and SPC back on the map. It is good for the Liga. That being said, leave Benfica (and Porto) out of it and enjoy your day in the sun.
Bilbao is a tough opponent for SCP in the semifinals. I watched them a little bit against Manchester United, and they honestly never looked in danger of losing. They are particularly strong in attack with Spanish internationals Iker Muniain and Fernando Llorente leading the way. Defensively, however, I think Sporting can create some chances and it will be important for them to take those chances and put Bilbao on the back foot early. If they can do that, I think SCP will have a chance. If not, Bilbao could overwhelm Sporting's own suspect defense. To be honest, if Metalist had finished better (and Rui Patricio not had a blinder of a game) I think Sporting would be out. There were numerous opportunities for them to completely overrun Sporting and they just didn't have the class to pull it off. Bilbao does have that class, so Sporting is going to have to do better, particularly on defense.
I'll be a homer.....Sporting wins 2-1 in the first leg and holds on for a 2-2 draw in the second leg in Bilbao. Forca Sporting!
Sam Harris may be a douche but atleast he isnt acting like his not one. Infact im sure he even knows he is one since he had to copy stats that were already put up by other people to make his arguement.
Do not how ever be angry at me because I am very content and satisfied with my teams year and you are unhappy watching benfica squander theirs. Lol to you my friends!
nnice job sporting. i loved that team since i first starteding watching tv. forca sporting
Regarding Sporting's current position in the league, it is what it is, a rebuilding period and they will challenge again soon, like they always have. Every team goes through their ups and downs. So, to the Benfica supporters who are bashing Sporting for being fifth, would it be fair to bash Benfica for when they were down like back in 2001 when Benfica struggled to finish 6th in the league or in 2002 and 2008 when they finished fourth in the league? Or when Benfica was crippled by Vale e Azevedo? Again, every club goes through their ups and downs.
Bring on the Derby.
Benfica is having a better season. Only an idiot would argue different. For a Benfica fan to come here and create a straw man argument about Europa v. Champions is just sad.
Benfica need to worry about this:
1 FC Porto 25 60
2 Benfica 25 59
3 Braga 25 58
Or, in the end, the list of Benfica accomplishments in will equal the list of Sporting accomplishments. Nada.
As for Sporting, fantastic job. Maybe it's about time a little fortune came their way. Great job all around, especially after it seemed as if it was all falling apart.
Secondly, all these Benfica-haters like Sam and Bryan just have to keep bringing up our club, even in articles unrelated to them...they are clearly all enamoured with Benfica haha! This article was about Sporting, why the references to SLB? Idiots is all i can say!!!
Lastly, yes Rui Patricio is having a strong finish to the season and this is good news for the seleccao. I have been critical of him but he's been proving me wrong lately. Also good for him and Joao Perreira to get a taste of playing at this stadium in Kharkiv already, because they will be returning to play there this summer in the Euros, and we will all hope for similar good performances! Once again, Parabens!!
Never expected Sporting to beat Manchester City over two games, let alone reach the semi-final. There were a tense few moments in the game against Metallist, but Sporting showed nerve and determination to strive past.
Well done, a great achievement to all the players and staff. For only the 5th time in the clubs history have they made it a European semi-final. A true achievement. All the the best for the game against, Atletico.
Sportinguistas can raise the heads high today... Congratulations!! Vivo o Sporting
Sam, stop hating yourself and maybe you can see what the majority of us see. Its all about Portuguese success in Europe dude. Maybe Bryan SCB has taken another alias.
Sempre SLB!
This year final four: 3 spanish 1 portuguese
Again good luck in the EL, I'll always cheer for chop teams in Europe but I love the weak attempts at trying to paint Sporting's season as anything close to our successes so far.
Also the rebuilding thing is a joke since we had the same number of new players come to our club but with greater success. Looks like it will be another summer of big money for Benfica to keep growing the club and likely another season where Sporting can't afford to fix their second division looking field.
I was impressed with Metalist in the first leg, so I knew that this was going to be a tricky game. Metalist seemed to be playing with much more intensity and energy than Sporting, and if it wasn't for Rui Patricio, Sporting could have been eliminated. The center-back paring is definitely pretty shaky, and if they play the way they did today, they'll have a very hard time against any of the Spanish sides left in the competition.
They went in with a defensive mentality, which I never advise. But luckily Patricio was there to save the day. In terms of offensive, Capel looked good, and Wolfwinkel's header was beautiful. Other than that, Metalist actually played a better game. Good thing the first leg result was there as insurance.
I'm happy that SCP had made it this far, but I am still envious that Benfica made it to the CL quarterfinals, if for no other reason because there is exponentially more money awarded for Champions League games than Europa League matches, which Sporting badly, badly needs at this point. Hopefully they can go through to the final, and it will provide some money and morale to build for a strong run in the league next year.
Forca Rui Patricio,
Forca Sporting
Sportinguistas are due or should I say overdue!!
FORCA SPORTING!
World class effort today with little form around him.
Capel's cross was beautiful.
Otherwise, Sporting did little to organize when they possesed the ball in the first half and possessed little in the second half.
Will need better form in the Semis.