Sporting kept alive their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Academica at the Alvalade tonight. Andre Carrillo and Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored for the hosts, either side of a Polga own goal, to plunge Academica into further relegation trouble.

The Lions were dealt a blow before kick off when Izmailov injured himself in the warm-up and was replaced by Peruvian winger Andre Carrillo.

Academica had dropped into the relegation zone yesterday after Feirense beat Uniao de Leiria in farcical circumstances, but rather than lament their luck Pedro Emanuel’s side started the game in positive fashion, pinning Sporting back for long periods during the opening half hour.
 

Sporting loanee Adrien was again impressive in midfield, and after a neat turn fired a shot narrowly over the bar. Soon afterwards Diogo Valente spurned an excellent opportunity, screwing his effort well wide after a swift move had opened up Sporting’s defence. Patricio then had to produce a sharp save to push a powerful Nivaldo shot from range away for a corner.

After being largely outplayed Sporting took the lead with their first chance. Capel, who had been kept in check until that point, escaped his marker and produced a sumptuous cross from the left by-line. The onrushing Carrillo did not need to break his stride or even jump as he met the ball with a thumping header to leave Peiser with no chance.

The setback did not seem to affect Academica, who kept playing football of a quality that belied their lowly league position against a weary-looking Sporting. Rui Duarte forced Patricio into another fine save with an angled drive, and on the stroke of half time the Students got a deserved equaliser. Nivaldo whipped in a dangerous cross, and in his anxiety to clear the danger Polga only managed to send a diving header into his own net.

Carrillo was first threaten after the break, wriggling past Nivaldo and hitting a firm cross-shot not far wide. Back came Academica and Marinho should have done better than blast wide when well placed 15 yards out.
 

Sporting had improved in the second half, but it was only when Sa Pinto brought on Andre Martins and Pereirinha for Elias and Joao Pereira that the home team at last began to exert heavy pressure on Academica, as the 30,000 strong crowd came to life.

A spell of good attacking from Sporting was rewarded in the 77th minute. The ball broke to Carrillo on the edge of the box whose superb shot crashed off the underside of the bar. Wolfswinkel was first to the rebound and had little trouble heading into the net with Peiser on the floor.

Sporting were not about to let their lead slip again, and played down the clock comfortably to record a fifth consecutive victory in the league and move to within three points of Braga. If Academica keep up this level of play they stand every chance of getting the points that may save them from their remaining two games against Vitoria Setubal and Vitoria Guimaraes.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Insua, Onyewu, Joao Pereira (Pereirinha, 61), Polga, Elias (Andre Martins, 57), Capel, Matias Fernandez (Carrico, 81), Schaars, Wolfswinkel

Academica:
Peiser, Cedric, Real, Abdoulaye, Nivaldo, David Simao (Edinho, HT), Diogo Melo (Danilo, 83),  Adrien Silva, Marinho, Rui Miguel, Diogo Valente (Saulo, 67)

Goals:
[1-0] Carrillo, 29 
[1-1] Polga (own goal), 44
[2-1] Wolfswinkel, 77

by Tom Kundert

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