S.C. Braga 1 Sporting CP 0 (Taça da Liga Semi Final)

S.C. Braga v Sporting CP

January 23^rd, 2024
Estádio Dr. Magalhães
Taça da Liga Semi Final

The Warm Up

As the final whistle blew at a quarter to eleven Thursday night marking the end of the 5-2 away triumph against Vizela it was met with a combination of joie de Vivre and vitriol in equal measure. The latter it’s safe to say largely adding the fuel on the fire to the former. In the opening game of the season the same opponents were guilty of some of the worst time wasting I can remember in over 35 years of watching football. Justice was served as far as I’m concerned with the winner coming late in additional time with Sporting ironically the unexpected beneficiaries of shit housery 1.01 gone horribly wrong. Here they started repeating the process in the 9th minute before they'd even gone a goal to the good. They got caught out again with the equaliser in the 7th minute of additional time at the end of the first half and my god did I enjoy the goal to make it 2-1 straight after the half time break meaning they couldn’t now afford to waste time again. I feel sorry for their fans I really do. If Adán started doing it 15 times a half I’d whistle him and tell him to get a fucking move on. (Are you finished? Yes sorry.) Moving on…

Perhaps it is worth at least taking a deeper dive into the win or moreover the current form of players and the team combined. Gyökeres as I said in my last matchday blog was imperious. I don’t know how many man of the match awards I’ve given him so far this season but I’m aware he’s winning by a country mile. He has this will and drive that if you could bottle it you’d soon retire on a large fortune. You just hope that it proves to be suffuse on his team mates the more critical each game becomes.

Gonçalves only notable contribution other than the assist for Coates was his effrontery. He really was lucky to escape a booking for an off the ball incident on Essende who knew he was winding him up and getting under his skin at the point. Gonçalves forcibly removed his arm from his shoulder as the two players ran along. If Essende had backed into him in the same manner I’d have been shouting foul play so you have to be fair and call our lads out on it when they’re proven guilty. There’s a continual malady with him and you wonder the cause of it. It’s like someone sat him down when Bruno left and gave him a tape to watch and said that’s whose boots you have to fill. Goals ✓ Petulance ✓ Throwing arms about in disgust ✓ Grow stupid facial hair … still working on that one. I appreciate it’s not easy when you’re no longer the main man, when your position can change week on week. But his attitude has never been fully right. There are claims Edwards attitude was always poor at Spurs and frankly by comparison I’d call bullshit on that. Not that I have firm evidence, I just think he’s able to express himself better with a football at his feet than he can verbally and that’s meant not as a sly on his nature or in reference to anything other than his mother tongue. I just think that his demeanour could get easily misconstrued. I might be wrong – frequently am. He might have genuinely thought he was Bertie big bollocks and now playing his trade in Portugal rather than the Premier League has taught him some humility. He just strikes me as being a poor orator and maybe shy and reserved because of it. I think Gonçalves however does believe his own hype.

Nuno Santos seems to have reverted to type and those fleeting moments of genius last season are no longer able to cover up his waning contributions. I’ve not been over endeared by Morita, Hjulmand or Bragança in midfield but that may be down to the ball constantly funnelled down either channel which means I’m missing the genuine contribution that any of the trio make. Clearly I’ve been spoilt watching the likes of Adrien and Palhinha and just expect more. To’be fair I was never really sold on Ugarte for the majority of his time so what do I know? Not a lot.

I’d love to know if it’s just me that thinks we’re over reliant on Gyökeres right now and are stumbling through games. It sounds utterly, UTTERLY ridiculous I know if you looked at it on paper. But I’m not looking at it on paper I’m watching it with my eyes. 5 goals scored against Vizela, 3 against Chaves, 4 against Tondela and 5 against Estoril. 17 goals in four games. That’s great form right? So why was I left impressed by only the Estoril performance? Ever since we’ve been flat. Too much Christmas pudding maybe? Yet we’ve got eight straight wins. My worry is that we get found out sooner or later unless other players levels start to match those of Gyökeres. OK maybe not match let’s be realistic. I just want more players stepping up. We shouldn’t be watching Gyökeres running down the left wing and crossing the ball into the box on frequent occasions across the season. Don’t get me wrong he does a Nuno Santos impression better than the man himself right now, I want him on the end of it and for the level of cross to match. Pressure makes sure diamonds. We have a literal one at the back when you translate Diomande into English. But pressure can also cause unwanted explosions. Maybe we just need to be a little calmer. Says the man who is already suffering from chronic nerves 24 hours in advance of the next league game.

Anyways…

Onto the semi final against Sporting Braga which is set to be a hugely one sided affair in the stands at least with the Torcida Verde boycotting the game over requirements for ID to gain access into the stadium. Usually you’d think the pressure of a semi final would add to the stress of a season but it might almost come as a welcome break from the league right now. With Simon Banza away at the Afcon their form has suffered. A 1-1 draw at home to Vitória was followed by a 3-2 away loss in the Taça de Portugal to the pigeons, a 2-0 away loss in the league to Porto, although they did come from behind to beat Famalicão 2-1 Thursday night with the winner coming in the 11th minute of additional time. Their season currently hinges on success in this game more than ours does I’d suggest. Regular readers will know of my irrational hatred of Braga, the reasons for which I’m embarrassed to say I don’t really remember but it would probably stem from a loss when I first started watching the club under Marco Silva. So losing this game would annoy me but right now it wouldn’t be the end of the world. A potential weekend off, if the pigeons beat Estoril in the other semi final to make it to the final they’d have that additional pressure, the chance of injuries and suspension whilst our lads could get some rest, welcome Geny and possibly Diomande back into their ranks. We will see what happens.

Nice segway though and a chance to look at matters away from Portugal. After Diomande gave away the penalty which lead to the Cote d’Ivoire losing 1-0 things didn’t get any better for Morita as Japan lost 2-1 or Geny making his first appearance played the full 90 for Mozambique as he hit the post in a 3-0 loss. Both the Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique play their last group games on Monday so we will know then about how long a period if any Diomande and Geny will continue to be absent. With Mozambique facing Ghana and currently bottom of their group my ’riginal assumption Geny returns first is likely to come to fruition. *

Finally let’s not mention what the neighbours did on Friday night. We’re still top if only by a point once more.

The money markets

Sporting Braga 2/1 33.33% probability chance of winning
Sporting 11/10 47.62% probability chance of winning 

*since original post Equatorial Guinea 4 Cote d’Ivoire 0. Diomande not even in the squad. The result leaves them dependent on other results to remain in the competition.

Team News

Israel continues to deputise for Adán in the cup competitions. Edwards comes into the forward three for Paulinho. Otherwise as you were from last Thursday’s game. Reis returns to the substitutes bench having missed the game through injury.

First Half

1 First chance falls to Braga as Horta tries a deft flick from a tight close angle. Israel was in a good position at the near post. Early warning sign that the Uruguayan will need to be at the top of his game for what will be his biggest test in his young career to date

10 Trincão with Sporting’s first effort centrally from 17 yards. On target but lacked any power and collected easily by the keeper

12 Gonçalves with a cleanly struck effort from around 33 yards out sees it cannon off the right hand post and to safety. That really was flying. Best chance of the game so far and a rare highlight of quality in a game with all the hallmarks of a chess match so far as both teams continue to feel each other out

13 Quaresma picks up a yellow for a late challenge on Djalo

15 Despite the booking the youngster completes his second well executed tackle in under a minute which is ironic given the poor tackle which led to the booking

18 This game has the feeling of a 1-1 on 90, Horta for Braga, Gonçalves for Sporting. Don’t quote me but I think off the top of my head the 1-1 in the league had the lowest number of chances in any Sporting match played in all competitions this season

22 Trincão brings a fine save from 12 yards having been played in by Nuno Santos on the left. Follow up blocked by a defender and out for a corner

29 Gonçalves tries to bend a shot into the right post with a defender in front from 14 yards but it falls wide of the mark. Again good ball in from Nuno Santos

31 Sporting have the upper hand now as Nuno Santos tries from the left in a crowded box. Finishes wide of the right post but good flowing move to present him with the opportunity transitioning the ball wide right to left through a series of intricate passes

34 Snap shot from Zalazar 20 yards out goes well wide of left hand post

36 Clang. Nuno Santos leathers a chance which the keeper gets a hand to and pushes it onto the bar. That ball was truly travelling as he struck it from 18 yards. Braga, like their goalposts looking more rattled with every passing minute in this game

42 Quaresma glides past one man, Cruyff turn takes him past another running into the box but can only fire his shot well wide of the left hand post from a tight angle on the right of the box. That would have been one hell of a goal had he scored

43 Trincão fires well wide from 20 yards

44 Jeers from the Sporting fans as the Braga keeper thinks he’s playing for Vizela

45 Unbelievable! Nuno Santos hits the far right post with a flick from the outside of his left boot.

Plus one shown

+1 Gyökeres shown a yellow for simulation in the box. That was poor from the Swede

Half time

Braga 0 Sporting CP 0

Three times Sporting have hit the woodwork. Braga really have led a charmed life in that first half. Having been heavily critical of Gonçalves and Nuno Santos in particular in the build up to this game they’ve both had their best halves of the season ably assisted by Trincão. Gyökeres has been a virtual passenger and Edwards, despite maybe one or two fleeting moments of quality, has been marked out of the game as well. I will go as far as to say that is the best half hour of football I have seen from Sporting in any competition this season despite it somehow remaining goalless. Quaresma has replicated his form from the first half of the Clássico.

The opening ten minutes had this game marked for a tight affair but it’s proved to be anything but from about minute 20 onwards. Braga’s challenges have gotten increasingly desperate and it’s hard to see where they will fashion a decent chance on that showing going into the second half. For Sporting it’s a case of more of the same please. Remain as calm as they’ve been in the first half and one of those chances will fall the right side of the post eventually. Well we hope.

Second half

Sporting get the second half underway as they attack the second half right to left

53 With Braga sending men forward for a free kick Gyökeres was left six yards shy of the half way line. Sporting quickly cleared the danger and the Swede was played through into the Braga half with no support and charged forward with intent but sadly his effort went agonisingly wide of the right post. If Braga were a cat then sooner or later they’re going to meet Kurt Zouma. They’re losing life after life.

58 Gonçalves toe pokes a chance forward from 12 yards which misses by that cat’s whisker. Another life lost for Braga cat.

62 Strong shout of handball against Fonte. VAR says no penalty. I call bullshit. His arm was well away from his body there in an unnatural position.

64 Gyökeres is now causing utter carnage. Floats a ball into an unmarked Nuno Santos who can’t keep it down

64 GOAL Braga 1 Sporting CP 0. All that dominance and Braga take the lead from an unmarked header six yards out from Ruiz. Well that is just Sporting all over. Braga have managed two shots on target on 64 minutes and somehow are 1-0 up.

67 Coates hands the arm band over to Inácio and makes his way off, Esgaio also coming off. Replaced by Reis and Paulinho.

68 Braga incredibly fail to go 2-0 up. Israel came charging out and slipped and passed the ball to a Braga player leaving his goal wide open. He passed it across the box to a team mate whose shot hits Reis and somehow stays out. Checking for a possible penalty against Reis. Rightly not given because his arms, unlike Fonte’s were tucked in, in a natural position.

76 Good double save from Israel keeps his side in the game. I’m still bemused at how this game is Braga 1 Sporting CP 0 although to be fair it should by all accounts now be Braga 2-0 up

76 Bragança comes on for Edwards to bring a bit more balance having taken Esgaio off for Paulinho. You couldn’t see Braga scoring if they played until Easter in the first 45 and now it’s the same with Sporting

80 Ironic cheers as Moutinho chops down Gyökeres and gets Braga their first yellow of the night

86 Desperation now from Sporting as Trincão tries from 20 yards but well wide of the right post

Plus four shown

Full time

Braga 1 Sporting CP 0

The Final Word

Well what can you say about that? If you don’t take your chances you lose. Don’t mark your attacker properly – you lose. Keeper doesn’t come off his line to punch clear a cross – you lose. How many chances do you need to score the winning goal? Just the one when the opposition can’t take theirs. For weeks I’ve been moaning about our state of play and whether we’re going to get found out. Yet today is the happiest I’ve been with our play, well in the first half at least. We looked sharp and methodical, the goal was coming until the point it didn’t. However from the point we went 1-0 down you just knew if you were being really honest with yourself that was it.

Coates coming off made sense having just come back from injury but Esgaio for Paulinho? Firstly Paulinho contributed nothing and secondly the balance and shape in an attacking sense we had enjoyed was then gone.

I wrote in the first minute this game will prove whether Israel has the quality to step up and make his mark in the big games or maybe words to that effect. I’ve slated him every time I’ve watched him but I’m not going to blame him for the losing goal. Yes he should have come to the edge of the area at a minimum but his defence let him down leaving Ruiz unmarked. But as I have said time and time again he is simply  not good enough and I can understand Amorim if he promised the kid he’d be number one throughout the tournament but you never feel he’s got a clean sheet in him. On that basis your attacking players have to score and Christ alive they’ll be scratching their heads wondering how the fuck that has finished 1-0. Clang, clang, clang – bar, post, post. If they’d gone in 2, 3 maybe 4-0 to the good you couldn’t have said they didn’t deserve it. Does the fault lie with the keeper for conceding 1 or the –forward line for not makin’ it an unassailable lead at half time? The evidence your honour is pointing forward. However two good saves does not a goalkeeper make. He should have been punished when he slipped and gave the ball away. That’s what’s in his locker. Could he ever turn up in the Premier League as a first choice keeper? No. Championship? No. League One? At a push. He’s League Two level at best, maybe MLS. Anyway fuck it. Doesn’t matter. Weekend off. Apologies to Estoril but let’s hope they lose tomorrow and that Braga take the final into extra time. I don’t want to see players from any side seriously hurt but the odd knock to a few key faces wouldn’t go amiss. I said I’d take a loss for a Dérbi win and the league title. Well that’s happened now so let’s see if the gods of football keep to their side of the bargain.

** Footnote to above Geny scored a 90^th minute 2-2 draw which meant Mozambique were knocked out of Afcon and the youngster will return. Cote d’Ivoire are awaiting the results of other games to see if they remain in the competition although the coach who decided not to involve Diomande in any guise in game 3 has been dismissed. Japan won game three to qualify from their group as runners up.

× noted on May 7^th I was clearly so angered I didn’t even think to name a man of the match post final whistle.