Sporting CP 8 Casa Pia 0

Sporting CP v Casa Pia
January 29th, 2024

Estádio José Alvalade

Matchday 19

The Warm Up

I thought having lost Thursday night we’d get to put our feet up and that the neighbours would get a challenging weekend in the final before they fell flat on their face against Estoril. Conclusive proof of how little I know and what I think doesn’t matter but I already knew that so it’s not a new disappointment for me.

Morita and Diomande continue their ventures into the knock out rounds of the Afcon and Asia Cup. Japan currently more convincing than Cote d’Ivoire who lost 4-0 in a poor performance without Diomande even being involved in the squad for the defeat having given away a penalty in the previous loss. With the nation looking for an interim coach to take charge of the next game against Senegal you’d expect the host nation’s involvement is soon to come to an end seeing the return of the youngster to Sporting’s ranks. One player already back is Geny after Mozambique failed to qualify for the knockout stages. He capped his last performance by scoring a penalty in a 2-2 draw. Reports in Portugal suggest he will be the go to man on the right instead of Esgaio over the coming weeks.

With the news last week that Jürgen Klopp is to leave his position as coach of Liverpool in the summer Ruben Amorim has been linked although the bookmakers disagree with press reports making him only a 14/1 chance. This week sees the transfer window finally shut and despite all the words written surrounding possible departures of Inácio, Diomande, Gyökeres, Geny, Edwards and Hjulmand none of them have so far left the club. Discussions are underway for Essugo to finish the season out on loan and now Estoril have played in the Taça final the signing of midfielder Koindredi is set for completion. Having looked at his statistics during his time in Portugal I can’t say it’s obvious why they’ve signed him but maybe I’d have said that about Diomande if I was to do a deep dive on him twelve months ago. I do wonder if he’ll join a very long list of players I have no recollection of having seen played in the green and white over the ’ast decade. There's certa’nly a suspicion he'll become the new Sotiris or Tanlongo. Maybe there’s some truth in the Hjulmand to United rumours? I’ve not really brought into anything I’ve read so we’ll see once the window has shut. This may be fuelled by headlines such as Aston Villa and West Ham trying to sign winger Pedro Gonçalves. Winger? Good to know there are those out there who write more dribble than me at least. Something which may have legs is St Juste to PSV on a loan with an option to buy in the summer with the club looking to recoup their €10m investment. Given his injury record and the emergence of Quaresma it would look sensible business, though I write that only on the basis of his inability to remain fit for consistent periods of time. Otherwise I remain a big fan of his and it may also play a factor in Edwards long term plans come the summer as the two are very close off the pitch.

Opponents Casa Pia are a contradiction in terms this season with opposing records home and away. Their home record is the worst in the league, however away they’ve collected 14 points and have the sixth best record. Sporting of course still boast a 100% record at home as they look to at least restore a five point gap to Porto who are suddenly coming up the inside rail fast despite having a somewhat mixed season so far. The two sides have only ever met four times competitively with Sporting having won all four. However fixtures have come with goals; 2-1, 4-3, 3-1 and 2-1. Trincão scored a hat trick against them last season, Paulinho has scored three in total and Gonçalves twice. We could start the game in second place with the neighbours playing in the early kick off away to Estrela kicking off at 18:45.

The money markets

Sporting 1/5 = 83.33% probability chance of win
Casa Pia 12/1 = 7.69% probability chance of win
Sporting to win and BTS 21/10

Sporting have to pick themselves up from the disappointment of last week’s semi final defeat and there will rightly be question marks over whether they can sustain their current challenge for league honours. However the fact there isn’t a longer layoff than I originally thought may prove of benefit with a chance to put the ghosts of the defeat to bed and continue their 100% home record.

Random statistics corner

In the opening nine home games Sporting have only fallen behind once, that coming in the 3-1 defeat of Gil Vicente. That was also the only goal they’ve conceded before half time.

Away from home Sporting again have only fallen behind once and that came in the last game against Vizela. They’ve conceded just twice in the first half of the opening nine games compared to ten goals in the second.

Team News

One change from the side that lost to Braga as Adán restored in goal. If we weren’t battling for top spot I’d quite like to see the formation that Fotmob had our starting 11 shown with a back three of Coates, Gonçalves and Gyökeres. The middle 4 were Edwards wide right, Nuno and Trincão centrally with Inácio wide left. Front three of Hjulmand, Esgaio and Quaresma. Or maybe it is right and Amorim has lost the absolute plot. I’m guessing however it’s more a case of as we were last time out.

Build up ramble

Apologies to Jovane in my earlier post. Despite being on loan to Serie A side Salernitana he is of course still contracted with us and his Cape Verde team have qualified with a 1-0 win for the next round of Afcon. Brief excitement from the neighbours game as Estrela went 1-0 up only to concede two in three minutes on the stroke of half time to go in 2-1 down. It’s always the hope that kills you no matter how fleeting it may have been. Oh and no Diomande even on the substitutes bench again. I said previously it’s frustrating to lose players to the tournament so why is he not even on the bench for the second game? That does piss on the chips of the English ‘make it up as we go along press’ when they report clubs are out scouting him. Shame they’re not cub scouts as they might actually find out where he is.

First Half

Casa Pia kick off left to right as Sporting start knowing I’m sure that the neighbours won 4-1 against Estrela. Time to use them as a pace setter in a marathon.

7 Corner from Edwards on the right. I’m not entirely convinced that wasn’t a shot from the Englishman as the keeper tips it over the bar for a second corner which came to nothing

9 Interestingly Casa Pia are keeping a high defensive line that Sporting’s back three would be proud of. Interesting to see if Edwards can exploit the space potentially left behind at any stage with his pace. They’re certainly well drilled as you can see them drop back into a 5-4-1 formation in defence

12 Half chance to Casa Pia as Clayton can only direct a header into the arms of Adán

13 Nunes booked for leaving his thigh in on Gyökeres. Free kick close to the goal line on the left in a potentially good position

14 GOAL Nuno Santos floats the ball in from the left to the edge of the six yard box where Captain fantastic Coates heads home to make it Sporting CP 1 Casa Pia 0. Casa Pia maybe not as well drilled from set pieces then

18 Half time in the Senegal – Cote d’Ivoire game. If our boy isn’t already on a plane home he hopefully soon will be with Senegal one goal to the good. Christ let’s hope he’s not been present because he flew to London for transfer talks. 

22 GOAL Sporting CP 2 Casa Pia 0. Well the opposition had me fooled for approximately 12 minutes. Got caught out playing the high line, quick ball to Gonçalves who cut it across to an unmarked Gyökeres to make it 2. I guess that level of pressing and intensity looks good only as long as it works. Heads dip and… Sporting CP 3 Casa Pia 0... At least let me finish my sentence gentlemen.

25 As I was saying heads dip and … Gonçalves latches onto a curled ball into the box from Hjulmand. It went straight past the defence who looked on hopelessly and the diminutive forward smashes home from close range. Those were the two easiest goals Sporting will score all season. Casa Pia heads have gone and there’s over an hour left to play. Surely this is now a case of how many will we score.

29 Penalty to Sporting as Gyökeres is hauled down in the box. Given Nunes has already been booked he’s surely lucky if he stays on… Nothing shown by the referee after a long wait. Double jeopardy maybe?

31 GOAL Gyökeres stands with the ball on the spot. Takes one final breath as he sends the keeper to the left and the ball to the right. Sporting CP 4 Casa Pia 0

33 Trincão fires wide from the edge of the D. Amazing how against Braga that ball just wouldn’t go in and tonight it can’t stop going in. Define irony. That’s Alanis Morissette levels. Well the four goals not Trincão’s miss

34 Nunes having not been booked for the penalty is sensibly substituted. He’ll not be sorry I’m sure that he’s been taken off and Gyökeres will be living rent free in his head for weeks to come

37 Hjulmand shown a yellow for a late challenge in the Casa Pia box seconds after he could have made it 5-0 with a header saved from six yards.

38 Clayton goes down like he’s made of Jenga after the tiniest of taps from Inácio. That’s frankly fucking embarrassing.

42 GOAL Wow, wow, wow Sporting CP 5 Casa Pia 0 as Trincão sweeps the ball home from 8 yards. That came from Casa Pia still playing a high line, quick ball into Edwards, defender got a touch and the ball rebounded to Trincão and it was quite frankly gift wrapped for him there

44 Adán stops a bullet header from Clayton. Surprised he wants to use his head after that heavy smash from Inácio. I think he was only five yards offside when the ball came in.

One minute additional time indicated

Half time

Sporting CP 5 Casa Pia 0

I’m pretty sure I wrote at half time against Braga that was the best half hour I’d seen this season from Sporting. Well shelve that book. That last half was the best…hmmm…best…or decisive? Let’s go with the most decisive half hour of football because as soon as Sporting went 1-0 to the good Casa Pia gave up. Like a team of five year olds all hyped up prior to kick off who all then cry in unison ‘I want my mummy and I want to go home,’ as soon as the going got tough. I get wanting to play a high line when you can hold your shape and discipline but they were cut open time after time like a hot knife through butter. At some point surely your coach twigs you need to drop back 10 to 15 yards at least.

I said above it’s a case of how many will we get. You hope they keep their foot down because it’s just been a case of long balls into the box which really is ironic given how long we’ve tried to play down either flank and route one has brought all the success tonight. I can’t see us conceding five on the second half and not scoring again so I think I’m safe to suggest we’ll finish the night top. Anything you can do I can do better!

Second half

Sporting kick off left to right with one change in the ranks with Bragança replacing Gonçalves.

49 Clayton with another unmarked header from six yards. They clearly haven’t learned their lessons from the Braga game. Thankfully again straight at Adán who shows better positional play than Israel.

52 Indirect free kick from 20 yards. Nuno Santos misses the head of Inácio by about a foot and it goes out for a goal kick. Inácio indicates with his thumb and forefinger a space of no more than an inch aimed in the direction of Santos. Given how far his head was from the ball I think he’s telling him he’s got a really small dick. Could be wrong though

54 Hjulmand auditioning for a part in Riverdance…. Or that was a piss poor attempted shot which flew wide right of the post. Let’s say he was auditioning for Riverdance.

56 Double change as Esgaio comes off for Geny and Paulinho for Edwards. I don’t often criticise Esgaio despite most fans questioning how he is selected week in, week out but he really has been utter dog shite tonight which takes some doing against a side that conceded five goals in 29 minutes

59 Geny tries with his left peg from 18 yards but it goes harmlessly wide.

60 To be fair to Casa Pia they’ve maintained their highline when defending. Coach obviously has more conviction than me who’d have shut up shop after going 2-0 down.

62 Sadly Cote d’Ivoire equalised to take their game into extra time. Give us our boy back

63 Good work from Gyökeres now doing his best Geny impression on the right beating two defenders and finding Trincão in the centre whose shot was blocked for a corner

64 Coates goes close from 8 yards but keeper pushes it out for another corner

64 GOAL That last shot from Geny was clearly a sighter as he makes no mistakes this time from 20 yards to curl the ball past the keeper who looks crestfallen. That was a goal of real beauty and quality. Welcome home!!! Sporting CP 6 Casa Pia 0

66 Gyökeres pops up on the left this time and puts it into the six yard box. Defender manages to knock it against Paulinho and the ball goes out for a goal kick. I’d love to see Gyökeres heat map at the end of the game. If he was a racehorse you’d have all the finest mares in Lisboa lined up and reap the benefits in years to come. He is a proper pedigree

70 Nuno Santos has got those moon boots on again as he blasts high over the bar from 16 yards after great work from Gyökeres to cut the ball back to him unmarked.

72 Inácio makes way for Reis. Conspiracy theorists will say that’s a sign he’s going to be sold as he acknowledges the crowd singing his name. One final chance for the fans to show their appreciation. I’m not saying that by the way… Or am I?!?

76 Soft free kick given to Clayton against Paulinho. My lip reading is getting good in a language I can’t speak as he reacts with a Foda-se.

78 Clayton unmarked again knocks wide from a couple of yards. To be fair he was also offside again. At least our offside trap has held at points. Wouldn’t surprise me if he does time it right at least once tonight

79 Coates with a superb tackle to stop Clayton in his tracks on the edge of the 18 yard box.

80 Fernando shakes his head as Sporting given a corner which looked like it came off Nuno Santos last.

81 GOAL Sporting CP 7 and yes that’s not a typo Casa Pia 0. Neat one two between Geny and Hjulmand resulted in a pass to the back post where Coates slid in for his brace. Not sure what’s taking so long with the VAR.

85 Hjulmand departs for Essugo and after a three minute delay they’ve decided that yes the goal stands. I started off saying Casa Pia have the worst home record in the league. Well they’ve played like they’ve been at home so far tonight on the basis of the scoreline.

89 Brilliant – the maths replay for goal number 7 of the night shows in the first phase the furthest attacker forward was 57 centimetres onside and the second 36 centimetres. Three fucking minutes for that. Not exactly a fucking close call on either was it?

Three minutes indicated

+2 Gyökeres desperate for that match ball fires one in from five yards from a tight angle. Keeper saves for another corner. This time it did come off a Casa Pia man

+3 GOAL Just when you thought Geny had goal of the night all sewed up, Trincão goes hold my beer. Geny tried to pull it back for Hjulmand but missed and the ball instead fell to Trincão who smashes it home to the left of the keeper from the edge of the D. Sporting CP EIGHT Casa Pia 0

Full time

Sporting CP 8…EIGHT Casa Pia 0

The Final Word

If and when Gyökeres is sold he’s going to have to build a wing in his house to put all his man of the match trophies in. Coates was in with a shout but my God did the Swedish forward run their defence absolutely ragged. Well if the neighbours play first every game and that’s how we react then I’m all for it, the Dérbi excluded for obvious reasons. We wanted, no, we needed a reaction after the last defeat and if there was any doubt they were hurting and desperate to make amends then my God did they ever tonight. Second 8-0 of the season and this time it wasn’t against lower league opposition in the cup. As soon as that first goal went in they were done. You don’t often see sides totally capitulate in such a manner as that.

Hjulmand had his best game for me in a Sporting shirt. Gonçalves looked sharp again before being yanked at half time. Geny looked eager to prove why he was missed over the last month. There were too many shots of Inácio on the bench after he got subbed off. Is there something in it? I don’t get any commentary when I’m watching. Not that I’d know what they were saying in Portuguese.

Senegal – Cote d’Ivoire goes to penalties. I’d have liked to have been a fly on the wall in the dressing room after Diomande gave away that penalty in one of their previous group games. To not pick a player even amongst the two substitutes benches suggests something serious has gone on. Frankly I don’t care as long as he’s back in Lisboa because it’s fucking pointless him remaining out there. How we could have done with him last week against Braga. Fuck me they’ve gone and won. The holders Senegal are out. If our boy isn’t coming home then fucking play him next round.