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| Thursday, 19 April 2012 22:18 |
Late fight-back gives Sporting advantageSporting 2-1 Athletic Bilbao Sporting will take a goal advantage into the second leg of the Europa League semi-final after a 2-1 win at the Alvalade. Jon Aurtenetxe scored for Bilbao but late goals from Emiliano Insua and Diego Capel gave Sporting a slender lead to take to Spain next week.
Sporting’s build up to the game did not go entirely to plan. In-form midfielder Matias Fernandez was declared injured shortly before the match and was replaced by Andre Martins. Athletic Bilbao were without the suspended Javi Martinez meaning Oscar de Marcos took up his position in front of the back four. Sporting quick out of the blocksIt was the home side who looked the brighter in the opening stages. Daniel Carrico was fouled on the outside of the box and Emiliano Insua’s shot forced a good save out of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. Some good play on the right-hand side found Ricky van Wolfswinkel in space inside the area but his shot hit the wrong side of the netting.Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s nervous start was perhaps best summed up by the yellow card given to Oscar de Marcos for a rash tackle on Capel after just eleven minutes. The midfielder will now miss the second leg in Bilbao having already been on a booking. The visitors settled as the half went on and had their first chance of the game soon after. Fernando Llorente headed over from a Bilbao corner but perhaps should have done better with his chance. The game became more even and the two sides began to cancel each other out. Athletic managed to keep the greater amount of possession but found it hard to break down Sa Pinto’s organised team. Insua chanceSporting looked to break and had a few chances on the counter attack. Joao Pereira and Ricky van Wolfswinkel shot from long range. Emiliano Insua should have done better after a lung busting run in the final minute found him through on goal but his legs gave up on him at the vital second.After a lukewarm first half it would turn out to be a much more exciting second. The game turned in the 54th minute when defender Jon Aurtenetxe converted from close range after an Insua flick fell kindly to him. It was a big blow for Sporting to concede an away goal just seconds after they had a penalty shout turned down. A Bilbao defender had handled in his own area although it would have been harsh to have been adjudged as a penalty. The goal gave Athletic Bilbao a huge morale boost and they almost doubled their advantage minutes later. This time an Athletic corner dropped to Fernando Amorebieta and his shot smashed the Sporting post and bounced away from danger. Marat Izmailov then picked up a yellow card as Sporting began to wobble. The Russian will miss the second leg at the San Mames. Ricardo Sa Pinto brought on Andre Carrillo for Daniel Carrico and the substitution seemed to do the trick for Sporting. Just seconds later and Ricky van Wolfswinkel had a superb chance to convert a Marat Izmailov cross from close range, only to head wide of a gaping goal. Game-changing goalSporting’s growing pressure finally produced a goal after 76 minutes. Bilbao failed to clear a cross and Emiliano Insua pounced onto it straight away to cleverly head home the equaliser from all of 15 yards out.The home side took the lead just minutes later. The hard-working Diego Capel drilled a superb shot from outside the area low and hard into the corner of Iraizoz’s net. The superb atmosphere at the Alvalade got even louder with Sporting now in the lead and sensing a third goal was possible as Bilbao were now the team beginning to waver. Late on Andre Carrillo had an excellent chance to increase Sporting’s lead but his shot fizzed just wide. Sporting will be delighted with their late comeback but Aurtenetxe’s away goal leaves the tie very much in the balance. It sets up a delicately poised second leg and Sporting will take heart from their extremely strong performance against one of Europe’s in-form teams. by Richard Cole
Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Xandao, Polga, Insua, Carrico (Carrillo, 69), Schaars, Izmailov, Capel (Pereirinha, 84), Andre Martins (Rubio, 77), Wolfswinkel Athletic Bilbao: Gorka Iraizoz, Andoni Iraola, Ekiza, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Ander Herrera (Mikel San Jose, 73), Markel Susaeta (Ibai Gomez, 84), Iturraspe, Muniain, Oscar de Marcos, Llorente (Gaizka Toquero, 87) Goals: [0-1] Aurtenetxe, 54 [1-1] Insua, 77 [2-1] Capel, 80 Follow PortuGOAL on Twitter and Facebook |
Keep on doing all of Portugal proud, lions.
When I saw they went down a goal, I admit that I thought they were in for a world of hurt. Instead they pulled it together and got the win.
Huge comeback and a wonderful show for the home fans.
I hope that they can keep it going.
Congratulations from a Benfiquista!
FORCA SPORTING!!!
this is how it goes...
FORCA SPORTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love GREen
This against the team who had comprehensively outplayed Manchester Utd over 2 legs.
Sa Pinto has the team superbly organised. Maybe we have a truly great coach on our hands?
I will say though Rubio looked lost on that field in his cameo, he and Carrillo blew chances that really should have been taken 3-1 up and i would have been feeling alot more comfortable.
Great job Sporting when on fire they are a top team.