 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 05 December 2011 22:03 |
Dutch delight for SportingSporting 2-0 Belenenses Despite a below-par performance, Sporting overcame Liga Orangina side Belenenses to set up a mouth-watering Portuguese Cup quarter-final against Maritimo. Dutch duo Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Stijn Schaars scored the goals in the second half against a spirited Belenenses outfit.
Sporting came into the match having won 13 of their previous 15 games and were expected to see off the Blues with little trouble. However, Jose Mota designed a counter-attacking game plan that his players implemented almost to perfection in the first half. During 45 minutes the hosts were unable to break through the massed ranks of Blue-shirted players behind the line of the ball, and twice rapid counterpunches came desperately close to giving the visitors the lead. On both occasions it was Rodrigo Antonio who so nearly became the Belenenses hero. On 26 minutes the striker forced Patricio into a sharp save and soon afterwards Rodrigo's header shaved the post. Domingos brought on Andre Carrillo for the ineffective Bojinov at the break, and Sporting immediately looked livelier. Wolfswinkel continued his memorable debut season (13 goals in 16 matches in all competitions) with yet another goal on 50 minutes, thumping Insua's cross past Belenenses goalkeeper Coelho. The ball was in the net again five minutes later, but Capel had strayed offside before turning in Carrillo's superb trivela cross. Classy Schaars finishThe game was effectively over, although there was still time for Andre Martins to play a 20-minute cameo that suggested, as did his full debut last Thursday, that Sporting may have fabricated another very special talent. Sporting play Maritimo on 21 December with a place in the semi-finals the prize for the winner. Maritimo will not be intimidated by any means. The islanders have lost just once all season, way back in August, have knocked Benfica out of the competition and Pedro Martins' team also beat Sporting at the Alvalade in the Liga earlier this season. Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira (Santiago Arias, 80), Onyewu, Polga, Insua, Elias (Andre Martins, 72), Daniel Carriço, Schaars, Diego Capel, Bojinov (Carrillo, 46), Van Wolfswinkel Goals: [1-0] Wolfswinkel, 50 [2-0] Schaars, 66 Tom Kundert |
They owned their Europa League group, and although it wasn't the toughest of groups, the way they are playing and getting their players European experience bodes well for their chances this season, both domestically, and going deep (shall I dare say winning?) in the Europa League.
The loss against Benfica was disheartening, but I still think that SCP have a good shot at the Liga title this year. Even if they come in second, I would take it, since it has been so long since SCP could even compete seriously with SLB and FCP.
Forca Domingos!
Forca Sporting!