Sporting CP 2 Rio Ave 0
Sporting CP v Rio Ave
Monday September 25th, 2023
Estádio José Alvalade
Matchday 6
The Warm Up
Monday night football returns to the José Alvalade. It can’t be long before we complete the full set of days of the week played with just Tuesday and Wednesday to go and we’re only into the seventh game of the season in all competitions. You hear constant complaints in England from managers in relation to kick off times for the purposes of TV. Send them to manage any of Os Três Grandes for a month and they might have something genuinely to complain about. Everton away pre-season was possibly the first time I can remember sitting down to watch a 3pm kick off on a Saturday. Still for all the jumping around Sporting remain unbeaten. Thursday night’s turnaround to win 2-1 away to Sturm Graz was the fifth win in six. We of course know that the Primeira League is one of the only leagues in world football where just one bad result can crush your entire season such is the dominance of the aforementioned Os Três Grandes. Going into the weekend Boavista sit top from Sporting only on goal difference. They’ll be hoping to capitalise on Braga’s indifferent start to the league season and having played midweek Champions League football to Napoli.
The visitors Rio Ave have had an indifferent start to the season, however they did lead Porto at home going into 90 minutes only to concede in the 91st and 94th minute to lose the game 2-1. Since a 3-1 home win in September 2016 the Vila do Conde based side have only picked up two points from Sporting and an away win in the Taça de Liga in September 2019. Even the most ardent of their fans surely won’t be expecting to pick up anything from this game but those who are superstitious may point to those previous wins coming in September. Some of you reading may now be thinking ‘wake me up when September ends’ or simply – do shut up waffling man.
The money markets
Odds with the bookmakers just prior to Saturday lunchtime show Sporting 2/11 and Rio Ave a massive 14/1 for the win.
Team News
Rumours had been circulating prior to kick off that Gyökeres may be absent through injury. Those prove to be partially correct at least with Paulinho starting in the centre of a three, although the Swede is named upon the substitutes. Otherwise as you were for the 3-0 win at home to Moreirense. The visitors are set to match Sporting with a 3-4-3 formation so fingers crossed we get a more entertaining first half than we did Thursday night away in Austria which was a tawdry watch to say the least.
First Half
A familiar face in the stands as Ugarte watches on following his summer move to PSG. Rio Ave will be disappointed Gyökeres didn’t start as they maybe looked to confuse him by wearing a kit based on Coventry City’s home attire.
2 Corner Sporting. I’ve been suckered into noting them again having actually scored from one in the past week… and it’s knocked out for a second corner from which… the ball ends up ten yards into our own half. Bollocks to you’s.
6 Edwards slots home but Gonçalves was clearly offside in the buildup. Quick decision from the officials which is always a good indicator. The back three of Rio Ave have started with gaps so wide you could fit a yacht in the space. Sporting’s front three have remained quite narrow by comparison…
9 GOAL Wow I hadn’t even finished typing the above when Sporting proved my exact point that there’s space to get in behind the defence. Ball into Morita on the left, then squared for Paulinho who went thank you very much and tapped home to make the score 1-0 from six yards. That was gift wrapped. If I was the coach of Rio Ave I’d be throwing teacups at them half time although given the space between the defenders for the goal you’d probably miss the target in the changing room. Sporting CP 1 Rio Ave 0
13 Snap shot from a tight angle by Nuno Santos. Not sure it was going in but the keeper took no chances and put it out for a corner.
17 Paulinho takes a bang to the head and goes down. At least you know with his goal celebration he’ll be able to point where the issue is for the physio. Makes a change for him to actually be injured when going to ground. Santos who looks like he came off worse of the two players picks up a yellow card for his troubles having got back to his feet finally following treatment.
20 No surprise Sporting are now trying to target that same space on the left again. Twice in a minute they’ve come close. Paulinho went one on one with the keeper but his header to try cushion the through ball was akin to a ball hitting a trampoline. Morita was then stopped on the edge of the 18 yard box by a last ditch tackle.
24 I think that was the first touch of the game for Adán if you’re looking for an indicator of how one sided this game has been…
25 GOAL … and if you need another indicator – have a Marcus Edwards goal. Genuinely confused how he scores there. Collects the ball on the right hand side of the 18 yard box, runs to the goal line, cuts back to make space and from the most acute of angles nutmegs the defender and the goalkeeper. You could try that 100 times more and have 50 go out for a goal kick and 49 ping out the area. Sporting CP 2 Rio Ave 0
29 Paulinho cleverly dinks in a disguised pass to Gonçalves in the six yard box but he can’t keep his volley down and it goes over the bar.
32 Gonçalves cuts a frustrated figure again. Played in one on one with the keeper his first touch let him down. His shot is easily saved by the keeper, deflects back off the Sporting man and out for a goal kick. Gyökeres must be thinking I’d have had a brace from those last two chances.
34 Second touch for Adán as he jumps to collect a high cross into the area. I wonder what he’s thinking in games like these. Maybe what to have for dinner tomorrow night. Did I remember to feed the cat?
38 Ronaldo shoots from 30 yards centrally and it’s somewhere in row Z. No not that Ronaldo. Mind you I’ve seen that Ronaldo park a multitude of free kicks from a similar distance high into the stands over the years.
Three minutes additional time.
+3 Gonçalves has I think borrowed Trincão’s shooting boots. Edwards raced onto a ball down the right and cut it back only to see another shot fly over. Given the ridiculous angle he scored from he’d have been better taking another chance.
Half time
Sporting CP 2 Rio Ave 0
That was ridiculously one sided. I’m not saying that to be biased either, that genuinely was as one sided a half as you’ll see in Europe all weekend maybe other than maybe in Sheffield yesterday. Still I’m not complaining. This being Sporting I’ll be happier if we get a third goal. You know – just in case. I think we’ll get the usual raft of substitutions on 60 minutes. Nuno Santos and Esgaio are basically passengers out on the wings. They could set up deck chairs on the half way line and watch the game go by. Maybe dangle a foot out if a Rio Ave player looked like crossing the half way line. You can’t even lay a bet at the start of the second half on either side to win. The only offer 70/1 the draw.
Better news for the actual Coventry City who lead 1-0 compared to the Portuguese knock offs from Rio Ave.
Looking through the half time stats Nuno Santos and Esgaio made a combined 31 passes in the opening 45 minutes. If Rio Ave had a game plan to block the attacks from wide areas then they succeeded perfectly. Maybe a flat back four would have just filled in the Swiss Cheese style gaps. No surprise to see them making substitutions at the start of the half. Whether that’s simply a change of personnel or formation as well we shall see.
Second half
45 Under 20 seconds played and first corner conceded by the visitors. I won’t waste my fingers by typing what happened.
46 Paulinho pulled back on left of the 18 yard box. Yellow card shown to Ruiz
47 Coates header collected by a grateful keeper
47 That man again down the other end as he sees a yellow card for a lunging tackle on Ronaldo. Free kick in a dangerous position just left of…
49 … fucks sakes. Whipped in ball and unmarked header from 3 yards makes it 2-1. Looks offside to me but was there a Sporting touch? They’re certainly taking their time checking. No there wasn’t. Oh wow maybe that’s not what they were checking as the maths replay as I call it shows the player 6 CMS offside. Must be my eyesight and a kit clash. Still you know by now that I don’t after time and post edit comments to make myself look clever.
55 So close to being three. Nuno Santos maybe a bit bored has popped up twice out to the right. Another clever volley from inside the box beaten away to safety by the keeper.
56 Yellow card shown to Ronaldo for simulation…Saying nothing about namesakes and behaviour. Threw himself in-between Hjulmand and Diomande right under the referees nose.
59 It’s not going to be Gonçalves’ night as he tries from 25 yards and fires well over. Give Trincão his boots back man.
60 Bragança, Geny, Trincão, Reis and Gyökeres are going through their paces warming up on the sidelines. So that would be who – Nuno Santos, Esgaio, Morita, Gonçalves and Paulinho? Or maybe rest Edwards and allow Geny the space he vacates. Ooo does he go Hjulmand… How about we wait and see?
65 Ruiz with a shot on target. I think that’s their first of the match. I mean he was falling as he struck it and it was straight at Adán but it counts.
66 off… Hjulmand, Edwards - on… Trincão, Bragança
67 Ventura flattened by Morita. Only mentioned
so I can go – I bet his mates call him Ace. Oi don’t moan. I waited all
Thursday to try get my ‘there can only be one Hierlånder’ joke in and never got
the chance. Yes I am bored by this second half on field display
73 Fucking hell not so ace there. Ventura effort looked more like a rugby drop kick. That really was dog shite.
75 Paulinho goes down clutching his face. Fucking get up man. He needs to get rid of that part of his game. Does he think referees never watch other games back? Ronaldo was booked for a different more obvious simulation and OK it’s the centre of the park where he goes down but it’s the same thing. He’s milking every bit of contact.
76 Nuno Santos and Esgaio make way. No surprise there. Geny and Reis on.
79 Was that Gonçalves with another miss? Fucking hell he’s the cat with nine lives. Yes it was, ricocheted off the legs of Nobrega. He could stay out here all night, floodlights on and an empty net and still not nestle the ball into it. Get him off.
82 I wonder if in the terms and conditions none of us ever read it says Sporting commit to giving you one entertaining half of football but never two.
83 Gonçalves tries again from range, again straight at the keeper. Just put him out of his misery and mine please. It’s getting painful and I’ve got us to win both halves FFS.
87 Oh
no bad news for the real Coventry City as they’ve succumbed to a 94th
minute equaliser. Yes, again, I am that bored.
89 Diomande goes down clutching the back of his leg. That doesn’t look good. They’ve wasted no time in telling Neto to get ready. He went down with no one around him which is never a good sign. What idiot said St Juste will only replace him if he gets injured on current form in his last write up?
Six minutes shown. Neto on. It’ll probably be 7 and a half after that treatment unless the referee goes what’s the point, no one will care if I blow up early
+2 Ventura goes in studs up on Morita. Rightly shown the yellow card.
Must be time to think about man of the match. Well it’s not Adán cause his gloves are as clean as how they came out the pack.
+3 How is that not 3-0? Sporting broke with Gonçalves and Trincão. He finally decided not to shoot and squares the ball. I thought the defender got the final touch but maybe not. Anyway bollocks to you both for costing me my bet. Mugs game. Ball ended up wide of the right post whoever got the last touch.
Any way where was I… not Gonçalves either, he’s spunked his confidence everywhere all over the pitch. Completely drained.
For those still awake whistle blows.
Full time
Sporting CP 2 Rio Ave 0
The Final Word
Anyways as I was saying about man of the match in the final minutes …it’s got to be Marcus Edwards. Oh it flashes up on screen that he’s been given the official verdict as well. Great minds and all that.
Strangely that feels quite anti-climatic at full time. It was a complete opposite display to last week in which we were given a dismal first half and entertaining second. Still another three points. Sporting retain their 100% win record at home. Another clean sheet and apart from the disallowed goal for offside they never really looked like conceding.
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