União de Leiria 0 Sporting CP 3 (Taça de Portugal)

União de Leiria v Sporting CP

February 7^th, 2024
Dr. Magalhães Pessoa
Taça de Portugal Round 6

The Warm Up 

After Saturdays fiasco with policing and the postponement of the scheduled away game to Famalicão, focus turns once more to the Taça de Portugal as Sporting face off in the quarter finals against União de Leiria. The opposition haven’t exactly been shy with scoring goals in this season’s competition. A 12-0 away win to Pedrógão was followed up by a 3-1, 5-0 and 3-0. Goals scored 23, goals conceded 1. The league two side currently occupy 13th position in the table. Goals in the league haven’t been quite as free flowing scoring 14 in 10 home games to date whilst conceding 12. The two sides have met just four times competitively, Sporting winning 3, with one drawn. This will be the first game since they met on April 1st, 2012. The pointing of the finger as to who the fools were that day was squarely aimed upon União as Matias Fernandez scored a 90th minute winner in a 1-0 win which saw Sporting complete a league double. In the Taça we of course joined the competition at a later round than União but have still managed to score 12 in our two games to date. Paulinho and Gyökeres both have 3 goals a piece and will see league two opposition as the ideal opposition to add to their seasons tallies.

The semi final draw has already been made and the winners of tonight's game will face either Vizela or that lot down the road. That was of course the prospect in the Taça da Liga which eventually saw neither club progress through to the final as we lost to Braga and they lost to Estoril so we take nothing for granted especially if Israel starts once more between the sticks. Did I happen to mention any point this season when he’s played that I don’t rate him? Oh I have. Tip top, moving along then…Oh maybe worth mentioning that Sporting lost that semi final to Braga in this very same ground so let’s hope lightning doesn’t strike twice at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, a stadium designed by the same architect as the Estádio José Alvalade. Who says these posts aren’t factual. Factual yes but are they interesting? Well one out of two isn’t bad.

The season the last two clubs met saw União finish the campaign in financial meltdown with the majority of their first team rescinding their contracts, something Sporting fans will have recent memories of. The club unable to pay their debts lost their top flight status and were firstly relegated to the second division but such was their plight they couldn’t guarantee financial stability and found themselves punished further with a drop to the third tier. Another club had been formed playing in the regional leagues an’ when the União SAD was made bankrupt they would pay just a €1,000 for the original clubs sporting rights and take their place in the league. Wouldn’t even buy you a left backs toe nail in the English non league nowadays let alone the naming and associated rights to an entire league club.

If you’re ever looking for an example of the real legacy following international football tournaments then União and the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa are probably as good as example as any that you’re likely to find. The stadium was built at a cost of €53.85 million for Euro 2004 and is owned by the local municipality and rented back to the club. The stadium hosted two games in the 2004 tournament; Switzerland v Croatia and Croatia v France. That’s right, a brand new stadium for two games. So they built it in an area with a local club that would warrant the cost and guarantee the attendances needed to fill it and ultimately pay for itself right? What was the average attendance for União in the 2002/03 season prior to the tournament? 1,324 and yes that’s four figures and not a typo. Total visiting spectators for the entire season? 22,500. Ground capacity – 24,000. Not even enough fans during an entire season to have filled it to capacity. Oh and the real kicker – they actually knocked down one of the ends so for the tournament it would have had a capacity of 30,000. União stopped playing there at one point because of the high rent demands. Last season saw them average 7,598 fans per game which is 3 to 4 times higher than what their average gate has been most seasons since it was built as they enjoyed a promotion winning season. How much of that was home support or boosted by away support I’m not sure but this season average attendance has dropped into the six thousand mark despite being back in league two. I wonder if there’s as much a fuss over this stadium from tax payers as there is over West Ham and the soulless bowl (more formally known now as the London Stadium and formerly the Olympic Stadium.) I don’t know how much União contribute in rent annually for the stadium but it won’t take a genius to work out it’s nowhere near what West Ham pay. Match days in London Town will at least also benefit local businesses with the influx of fans. This stadium however stands as Portugal’s white elephant. The Olympic Stadium paid host to the likes of Usain Bolt when it fulfilled it’s original purpose. No offence to the nation's of France, Croatia and Switzerland but I doubt anyone locally is going 'do you remember the Euro 2004 game between x and y, how special was that game?’ A class of 7 year olds with a rudimentary understanding of basic mathematics could have told you the sums involved in the building of the stadium were never’going to add up.

Anyway this isn’t a history of União blog post…

The money markets

União 12/1 – 7.69% probability chance of winning
Sporting 2/11 – 84.62% probability chance of winning 

Team News

Two changes from the win over Casa Pia. As expected Israel takes the place of Adán whilst Reis comes in for Inácio on the left of the back three. A warm welcome back to Morita fresh from his adventures with Japan who is named amongst the substitutes. New boy Koindredi is also named on the bench.

First Half

União get the game underway. Sporting will attack left to right in the first half. União defending early in a 5-3-2 formation

2 Geny clears the bar with an early effort from 20 yards. No infographics with times which could make this interesting

4 Gyökeres hits the right post from 3 yards out from a Santos cross from the left. The clang off the post must have woken the director up as we now have an in game clock

7 Second Sporting corner of the night. I’m not sure União have even been over the halfway line other than maybe immediately after kick off.

10 Edwards brings about a diving save from 17 yards. This pitch looks immaculate as a playing surface. Something not said when they abandoned the earlier tie between Santa Clara and Porto

14 Portugal’s answer to Rory Delap launches a long throw into the box, flicked on to the far post and Bura heads agonisingly wide. He knows that was a great opportunity to put the hosts 1-0 up

17 You imagine União studied Casa Pia’s game plan in the 8-0 loss and went let’s not do that. Defending deep and in numbers and Sporting unable to find any space at present other than when Gyökeres missed the chance early on

18 Ouatarra sees yellow for a late tackle on Santos. Not sure he touched him but Santos did well to hurdle and get out the way. More for intent than contact as he didn’t look in control of the challenge as he jumped in. I’m not sure I’d have any complaints if given against a Sporting player of the roles were reversed

22 Top draw save keeps it 0-0. Trincão hit a low shot with some force from 8 yards and Kieszek had lightning fast reflexes to get down and push the ball out for a corner. I feel like I’m having déjà vu with the Braga tie

28 Sporting need to be wary of Silva on the left. Rapid turn of pace left Quaresma chasing ghosts like he was Scooby Doo. His cross was only just cut out by Reis

29 Calls for a penalty to Sporting. Geny fired in a cross which just missed Gyökeres inside the six yard box. Gyökeres had put the ball on the spot ready to take it so they’re confident it’s a penalty. Referee has run to the monitor who then finally decides it’s a corner. Not sure whether the suggestion was a hand when the ball came over or a tug on Gyökeres.

31 GOAL Well the non award of a penalty mattered for all of 20 seconds as Gonçalves ball in finds the head of Gyökeres who directs it into the far post from 8 yards to make it União 0 Sporting CP 1. That’s four goals in three games for the Swedish striker

35 Gyökeres heads from close to where he scored the opener but he can’t direct any power on the effort and keeper collects

36 GOAL União 0 Sporting CP 2. That was clinical from Sporting. Gyökeres turns provider once more doing his best Santos impression on the left wing. Cuts the ball back for Gonçalves who passes the ball into the net.

37 Coming together between Edwards and Vega who went down faster than a game of Jenga. Edwards shown the yellow card. You’d be embarrassed to go down with that level of contact. Yes it was a booking but he’s made a proper meal of that like he’s got a Nando’s black card.

39 Another chance for the home side as Bura’s header deflects for a corner.

40 Bura shown the yellow for a foul on Edwards. Free kick in a good position 30 yards out. Delivery from Santos was poor though and União clear their lines easily

42 Should have been 3. Fred Astaire with his dancing feet out right found Trincão in the centre but his shot took a deflection and collected by a grateful keeper

43 Trincão lobs the keeper who was way outside of his box and has his defender to thank for clearing it as he was caught all at sea. You’d have needed to have phoned the coastguard for assistance with that one he was that far out

43 Another yellow shown this time to Empis who went through Geny out on the touchline

Plus four shown

+3 Trincão booked for a trip. Referee is not letting anything go in this game. A lot of players will need to watch themselves second half especially Empis

Half time

União 0 Sporting CP 2

Fair play to the home side as they’ve at least made Sporting battle for the lead and I’m not convinced we’ll leave with a clean sheet come the full time whistle. That being said I would be disappointed if they don’t come away having scored 4 or 5. União will surely tire around the 70 minute mark because they’ve had to be everywhere defensively in the first 45.

I certainly never tire of watching Geny when he’s on this form and I appreciate that yes it’s against a side from a league lower but his speed of footwork is a real thing of beauty to behold. Their defence can’t live with him and I don’t think there are many top flight defenders who could stay with him either. It’s not just the quickness of how he moves the ball, his pace to then lose his marker over the first couple of feet is quite frankly frightening.

Second half

Sporting kick off now attacking right to left. No substitutions at half time.

47 Vega strikes from 20 yards and deflects off Gonçalves which sends the ball looping goalwards. Israel gets his fingertips to the ball to push it out for a corner

48 How is it not 2-1?!?! Unmarked from 8 yards the União player blasts past the right post. He’ll be seeing that shot repeat in his dreams long after he’s retired.

50 Trincão rounds the keeper who takes him out in the area with the follow through. Not sure how that’s not been given as a penalty. Perhaps need to see that slower and from another angle

51 União have decided to go for it and are now defending with a highline which Sporting will take advantage of without a shadow of doubt. It’s like Willy Wonka with his golden ticket. Oh União play in gold how very apt – well done brain

54 Coates called offside as his header from 7 yards was superbly saved again and pushed over the bar. He’s shone for the home side tonight in goal for União

58 Edwards looks like a man who’s had the riot act read to him at half time, he’s far more involved second half. There’s definitely another goal or two in this game. Not sure which team will score though

60 Everything good about Sporting is coming through Edwards. He delivers a beautifully disguised pass to set Geny free. You wouldn’t want to be a defender out on the right tonight

64 Quaresma draws a save from 5 yards and Edwards shot is pushed out for a corner. União living a charmed life there

67 Cote d’Ivoire are through to the final of the Afcon. Diomande at least named amongst the substitutes again. Unbelievable he’s not starting because their defending was shambolic at times watching the first half before this game kicked off

69 This game has just fallen into a lull. Imagine substitutions can’t be far away for both teams now

70 Oh there you go camera cuts to Inácio stripped and ready

71 Inácio, Esgaio and Morita replace Reis, Trincão and Geny

72 Gyökeres stings the hands of the keeper from eight yards and out for a corner. I’ve been impressed by him tonight even with the odd mistake

73 GOAL União 0 Sporting CP 3 as Gyökeres heads home at the far post from a yard out. The keeper just lost the flight of that ball as the corner came in. You’ve got to feel sorry for him because he has kept the scoreline respectable up until now. Can União find a consolation goal? That’ll learn me for bigging him up again. Bloggers kiss of death

78 Gyökeres sees a low shot to the right from 12 yards saved again. I’ve lost count of how many saves he’s made tonight. Sounds daft when a keeper concedes 3 to say he’s been man of the match but he has by a country mile

79 Hjulmand exits for Bragança. Empis leaves the pitch from the far side. I imagine he’s thinking thank fuck for that

81 Another save from 10 yards this time from Gonçalves

83 And another. Bragança fires low from 12 yards and out for another corner to Sporting. Casa Pia will be wishing he was in goal for them. This could easily have been up around the 8-0 mark again if it wasn’t for him

86 Quaresma replaced by Neto

87 Yellow card has been shown to Neto. That didn’t take long did it having quite literally just come on as substitute. Free kick one yard outside the box.

89 The wall does its job as the ball goes out for a corner. Imagine Neto breathed several large sighs of relief. That was Kalvin Phillips levels of involvement there causing all sorts of panic at the back

89 Lightning quick counter by Sporting from the União corner. Ball found its way to Santos in the area who had time to write his memoirs there and somehow still contrived to knock the ball wide of the far post when wide open and unmarked

Plus one shown

Referee puts the home side out of their misery

Full time

União 0 Sporting CP 3

The Final Word

Goalkeeper Kieszek was hands down man of the match in the game. Geny was a constant menace in the first half but his second half involvement was severely limited as Edwards took command for the first 25 minutes. So two excellent spells but neither produced over their entire period in the game. Gonçalves came through with another goal, Gyökeres with another brace. I’m thinking out loud through the medium of text in case that had escaped your attention. It shouldn’t be that hard to pick a clear man of the match for Sporting. Well it wasn’t Nuno Santos who looks like he’s struggling again. It’s got to be Gyökeres hasn’t it? Scores twice, assisted the other goal. Had he faced another keeper he could have easily walked home with the match ball under his arm. Jesus that must get boring for him. Who me again? Another doorstop. Note to self I need to buy a bugger house with more doors.

Professional display overall by Sporting. You can only beat what is in front of you after all. We were incredibly fortunate not to concede from the Portuguese Rory Delap’s miss from 8 yards out. I’m guessing it was Silva but I’ve never seen União play and the app doesn’t have a photo of him against his squad name and number so my apologies but after that miss I’m sure he won’t mind me not flagging his name up as the culprit. Vizela or the neighbours await then in the next round. Maybe they’ll find some canoes in the Azores and play out the game involving Santa Clara and Porto. Amazing they played as long as they did before being abandoned. One more game until we get Diomande home where he belongs. Let’s hope he gets some minutes on the pitch in the final to lessen our pain of having to play without him in the semi final to Braga. Still smarting. Mind you if karma exists the Cote d’Ivoire will get stuffed and quite frankly I won’t shed a tear.