Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 1

The warm up 

If Sunday night's result wasn't enough of a punch to the gut, the news that Morita won't be renewing his contract comes as a real double blow. Much was made in Spain of Jude Bellingham's recent dismissal for the use of the phrase "Oh fuck off!" It seems an apt one for me to use right now to summise how I'm feeling at this juncture. Everything about Sporting currently reminds me of a Donald Trump press conference; You're waiting for some vestige of good news and are left finding absolutely none. Regular readers will have seen me discussing expectations management de temps en temps in previous posts. On that basis amd for purposes of damage limitation to what little hope I have remaining, I admit that I'm now fully resigned to the fate that it's just not going to be our year. All the signs have pointed to it for months and I've tried to ignore them but every round they get louder and louder and now are near on impossible to be ignored. We can only hope that I'm proven wrong and I frequently am in fairness. I'm just waiting to read that Gyökeres season is over in a freak accident involving tripping over a dachshund. It's been that kind of a season especially of late. 

More injury news post AVS with Quaresma the latest player ruled out and of course the irony to end all ironies with Diomande who shouldn't have played Sunday having originally been banned for two games following his dismissal against Porto, will serve that second game ban after all. You couldn't make it up sometimes you really couldn't. Fuck off!

We're almost at the stage where we'll have one game a week, one last hurdle to jump in the form of Gil Vicente in the Taça de Portugal. The last time the two clubs met was a 0-0 scoreline under John Pear Tree in a somewhat tepid, uninspiring match. Oh how we could have done with that clean sheet in recent league games. Sometimes you have to just take it on the chin. I couldn't even write a match summary on Sunday post the final whistle. It would have felt like moaning to go oh woe is me. We're still top even if I'm not sure how. We're still in with a shout to win the Taça. Things could be way, way worse. If we win nothing then we have to learn from it. No one can legislate for the amount of injuries we've had. It's suddenly become silly season for suspensions in recent weeks, something we'd largely avoided up until now. Red cards are like old London buses all turning up at once. My lesson from Gil Vicente in particular is to not bemoan all the way through a second half of football about the lack of excitement following a half where Sporting had spanked them 4-0. I'd kill for that lead at half time now and gladly take a dull as dishwater second 45. As Cher once famously sang If I could turn back time…

I appreciate this is a one off cup game and that anything could happen. In England the accusation levelled at the big clubs is they don't take the cup competitions seriously and field the kids. In Portugal we just call that Sporting's current first team. As a marker of a potential result we'll use their away form in the league which is the worst of all 18 clubs.* One solitary win is all Gil Vicente have recorded on the road in 12 games. More important are the 8 defeats, 7 goals scored and a total of 23 conceded. The point won against Sporting must have felt massive at the time for them. Perhaps it felt massive for us. I'll check my notes. 

They come into this fixture off the back of five straight defeats. Oddly the last time they won a game was the 3-1 home win against Porto so they're capable of raising their game against the perceived bigger teams. I'll get my excuses in early just in case any are needed. That win against Porto was the last game in a run of 7 unbeaten so as we are well aware fortunes change quickly in football. 

Their cup run started with a 2-0 away win to Belenenses who incidentally Sporting B lost to on Saturday. Another 2-0 away to Vila Real and finally a 1-0 home win in the last round to Moreirense. Sporting will be their biggest test in the competition even with half the squad out injured. Back to the league for a comparison and after 23 games they average exactly a goal scored per game. Keep Felix Correia and Kanya Fujimoto quiet and you'll have yourself a much easier night given they've just shy of half of all league goals scored with 11 combined. The remainder split between nine men, one of whom goes by the name of own goal. If he scores again Thursday night for Gil Vicente I might well lose my shit and have to go lie down in a darkened room having finally admitted I cannot take any more punishment from Portuguese football this season. 

Everyone has their breaking point. 

* Well I might have found that breaking point earlier than expected. No idea why I thought we were playing at home tomorrow night. I refuse to re-write it in relation to their home form. It's still the cup, league form doesn't always count for a lot. With our misfortune right now we'll lose having gone down to nine men after both players had given away penalties. I hate football somedays I really, really do. Any parents reading this give your kids the choice, don't force them to become fans. There's far better things they could do with their time with far happier outcomes. 

Post update - Some good news with the announcement that Pedro Gonçalves is set to return after his long absence through injury. Perhaps it's all going to work out after all.

In the markets 

Gil Vicente 8/1

Draw 13/5

Sporting CP 12/25

Team News 

Starting XI

Silva, Esgaio, Inácio, Reis, Fresneda, Debast, Brito, Araújo, Quenda, Trincão and Harder 

Substitutes 

Israel, Geny, José Silva, Kauã Oliveira, Biel, Felicissimo, Mendonça, Moreira and Gyökeres. 

Rui Borges keeps faith with Silva in goal despite the change of competition. A rare start for Esgaio. Quaresma and Diomande absent from the side that started away to AVS with Reis the other defensive change. Up front Harder comes in to deputise for Gyökeres who is named amongst the substitutes. 

Kauã Oliveira the 20 year old midfielder on loan from Ibrachina FC gets his first call up to the first team and José Silva could make his first appearance. 

Gutted my favourite Gil Vicente player Sithole is out. Get well soon my man. 

First half 

Sporting in black shorts, white shirts with the green diagonal stripe get us underway and attack left to right. For the third straight game they line up in the 3-4-3 better associated with Amorim

1 Aguirre brings a save low to Silva's right from 17 yards and out for a corner. Big chance for the home team and a great stop to boot. Not the start Sporting would have been hoping for 

3 Debast with Sporting's first opportunity from 20 yards. He's claiming a corner but nothing given. That started with him inside the Sporting half nonchalantly flicking the ball over the head of an opposing player and carrying the ball forward.

5 Aguirre tries from the edge of the area but his shot is blocked by the back of his own man Fujimoto who is then flagged offside 

6 Harder fires from just inside the left of the box brings a save from Araujo. Not sure if that was given offside, it certainly brought about a confused look from Harder who presumably was looking for a corner 

10 It's definitely been an equal first ten minutes, Gil Vicente with the best chance so far. They've got nothing to lose really in going for the win with a place in the semi finals at stake. 

15 Sporting sat with a flat back five and the rest of the team no more than ten yards ahead. This is what we're used to seeing the lions trying to break down week after week in the league, rarely if ever have we seen them defend in such numbers against smaller opposition so early

19 Inácio tries a long ball from the halfway line which goes straight out of play. Sums up Sporting's night in terms of quality 

25 Sporting claim a handball in the box but the referee quickly dismissed the appeals of Trincão 

29 Another ball straight out of play for a goal kick. This has to be one of the worst opening half hours from Sporting that we've seen in a long time 

30 Santi shown the yellow card. Not sure that was for the foul in the centre or more probably his reaction at the free kick having been awarded against him in disbelief 

31 Trincão collects the ball six yards inside the Gil Vicente half in an attempt to inject some attacking impetus but again the move quickly breaks down 

32 Aguirre with his hands on his head as Silva grabs the ball following a shot from 5 yards. That came from a deflected shot that bobbles up favourably of a defender into the path of the number 9. Sporting have Silva's quick reactions to thank there. Could really be 2-0 if it wasn't for Silva in between the posts 

34 Quenda trips over the ball. I'd be quite happy for the season to be over watching this shit 

35 Close up of Borges on the bench losing his shit. Safe to say we'll be seeing Gyökeres at some point tonight on this showing. I wonder how many minutes Geny has in his legs? 

38 I don't know what odds the home side are now to win but the 8/1 they were is starting to look real value 

38 Trincão taken out by Zé Carlos who is shown the yellow. Gyökeres is warming up on the sidelines 

40 How have the home side not scored there? Ball across the box. Looks like the player got the ball stuck under his foot from six yards. No in fairness maybe he tries to cut it back to a teammate in the centre to tap it in upon seeing the replay. Thankfully for Sporting he fluffed his lines. Should really now be at least 2-0 to the home side. 

42 Harder goes down in the box. Again referee unmoved. He went down like a game of Jenga as soon as he felt the touch from Marvin. Given how close the referee was I'm surprised he didn't book the youngster for simulation 

No additional time shown 

Half time 

Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 0

I had a vision a few months ago of what Sporting would look like next season and this I'm afraid was pretty much it. Last season in the league Sporting tore them apart. I mean literally tore them apart and went in four goals to the good. Had Gil Vicente gone in 3-0 up tonight I'd have had no complaints. Sporting look like they'd rather be anywhere else in the world than here. Only Rui Silva can go in with his head held high at the end of that half - One man out of 11. Rui Borges looks like he's ready to lose his shit at half time. Let's hope they don't have China tea cups still in the dressing rooms. I'm imagine we'll see several players warming up at half time. Is it lethargy? Is it disinterest? It's fucking woeful and not good enough I know that much. Rarely if ever do I feel the need to criticise Sporting but tonight there's been nothing to praise them about. They could have been one down after a minute and a half. I'm tempted to say that might have at least caused some sort of reaction but I'm not convinced.

Second Half 

Unsurprisingly Gil Vicente’s odds to win have come down from 8/1 to 19/5. Gyökeres is at least warming up at half time. Please don't let this game have additional time. Rui Borges colours his hand in with a fat marker pen. Better than self harming I guess. As Gyökeres strips off next to him no talk, just a ruffle on the back of his head. Amorim would have been out five minutes before everyone else talking him through the game plan. Instead Borges is back down the tunnel talking to the other ten players whilst Gil Vicente patiently wait on already back on the pitch. 

45 Gyökeres on for Harder. Gil Vicente get us back underway 

46 When I was a kid I used to beg to stay up and watch the football. If I was a kid still up in Portugal I'd be begging to go to bed with the time eight minutes to ten 

47 Aguirre continues to give the defence issues, turns and shoots low to the bottom left hand corner but Silva was down smartly once more 

48 Trincão and Fresneda link up on the right, space opens up for the pass to Brito on the edge of the 18 yard box who has a first touch like a trampoline and the move breaks down 

50 PENALTY Sporting handed a lifeline. The defender claims his innocence. He's tucked his arm in. Looks harsh to me. Castillo claimed his innocence. Referee has gone to the monitor. Reis showing the referee the action he made as if suggesting watch me you don't need VAR.

52 I really need to learn Portuguese. 

53 No penalty. Gil Vicente get us back underway. If the rule is that your arm has to be in a natural position then that's the correct call. I know some fans will talk about a conspiracy against Sporting but if that was given against us I'd have been pissed

54 Debast goes past two men, picks out Araújo whose ball into the centre looking for Gyökeres knocked out for a corner. Gyökeres came close to having his head knocked off then. Thankfully no contact made. 

55 Inácio heads over from the corner on the nearside. Come back Coates. 

56 Strange corner as the defender on the floor with the ball between his legs rolls over when Trincão went to try kick it and carries it out. Yes I am that bored.  

58 Reis cross into the six yard box stopped by Araujo. Finally for the first time in the game it's all Sporting. 

60 Perhaps Sporting have figured out it's better to finish the better team than it is to start after recent weeks. Aguirre withdrawn for Gil Vicente which has to be good news for the Lions as he's caused all sorts of issues. That has to be an injury 

64 Cynical foul sees Brito rightly booked as the home side looked to counter 

67 GOLAZZO Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 1. Debast clearly read what I wrote about him last game and went fuck you. Gyökeres picks the ball up down the left and finds Debast in acres of space in the centre who smashes it in from 24 yards. To be fair it deflects off the defender and past the dive of Araujo to his left but it still looked spectacular all the same 

69 Reis is struggling having taken the bottom of a player's studs on his right shin in midair as he went to kick the ball falling back. That looked painful 

70 The scoreline is a cruel reminder for the home side that you have to take your chances. They should have been out of sight at half time 

71 How was that not 2-0? Trincão picked Gyökeres out at the far post and he couldn't have been more than two yards out and his effort was saved by Araujo 

72 SENDING OFF. Araújo taken out by Zé Carlos who kicked his ankle or was it his shin? He kicked something. It's been a long night. Shown the second yellow. If he was last man I'm not sure how that's not a straight red card? If you're a Sporting referee conspiracy nut you'll be going if that was a Sporting player it would have been a straight red. I'm not, merely asking the question

74 From 20 yards Gyökeres puts the ball a yard over the top right hand corner 

74 Replay shown of the chance for the Swede on 71. Starfish keeper! Made his body as big as possible. He's having the half Silva did in the first  

75 Another big save from Araujo. Quenda slipped Trincão in and first he blocks from six yards, the ball fell to Gyökeres and the keeper jumps up quickly to make it a double save. That's one of those training exercises you see keepers do and you think you never ever see those in a game why do they bother. Apparently that's why. Who knew?

77 Free kick for a foul on Gyökeres. Apoplectic reaction from Josué. He talks himself into the book 

79 Oliveira looks set to come on for his debut. Brito must be looking over thinking fucking hell do you know how many games I sat on the bench for before my debut? I had to go through three coaches, three coaches!!!

81 Brito and Fresneda off. Geny and Oliveira on. If we can keep Geny fit, get Gonçalves back they'll be like two new signings 

82 Trincão tries to bend one in from 17 yards centrally but goes well wide of the left post 

83 Sporting need to find the second given recent games even if they're the only side who look like they'll score this half. The lions couldn't have been as bad as the first half but the home side just haven't come back out for the second half 

84 Corner headed goalwards from 16 yards but never going to trouble Silva. Josué the player with the chance 

86 Debast shown a yellow for a clumsy challenge on the byline. The youngster can't have any complaints there 

87 Delayed free kick as the Gil Vicente player rightly points out Quenda isn't the full ten yards. You could tell that because he was a quadrant away and they're cut to six yards. 

88 GOAL Gil Vicente 1 Sporting CP 1. What was I saying about needing a second? Ball in from the left headed in from 3 yards unmarked. Fernandes given the goal but VAR check ongoing. Suspicion of offside certainly in the buildup.

Plus seven indicated in the meantime whilst the check is ongoing 

90 Blur is on a loop just going woo-hoo over and over and over like a bad dream. Must be tight. Perhaps there's an angle from a lamppost opposite? 

92 Someone turn the fucking woo-hoo’s off. Sporting celebrating. I still can't talk Portuguese but I'm going he was offside as the referee gives the update to those in attendance 

92 2 minutes 50 seconds gone and play restarted. We're looking at possibly 12 minutes time added on now. 

94 I'm assuming the players arm was offside by the replay. That always seems a strange decision given you can score with an outstretched arm 

94 Moreira has come on at some point during the excitement for Quenda 

95 Geny cleverly plays the ball off the defenders legs for a corner. Sporting in no hurry to take this 

97 Now a case of how long the referee wants to add on. For those still awake it's 22.42

98 Yellow shown for a foul on Debast. Bermejo the man booked I think (post final whistle. Yes it was. Oh Harder was booked on 7 minutes that's why he looked so confused!)

99 We're still going. 

+10 Finally the full time whistle goes 

Full time 

Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 1 

The final word 

Sporting secure their place in the semi finals. It's an old cliché but that was a game of two halves. Maybe, just maybe Sporting were owed a little bit of good fortune for once; first with the deflected opener and then with the equaliser ruled offside.

The referee had a really good game. I always like to make a point of that when I can. I have no qualms with him having awarded the penalty and over turning it. As fans we want to see the correct decisions even if it means the use of video technology and a decision given for us then reversed. I don't want to win by incorrect decisions anymore than I want to lose by them. If Silva was the stand out player of the first half then Araujo was for Gil Vicente in the second and when a game is dominated by two different keepers there's your match report half written for you. 

Sporting were toothless first half, Gil Vicente followed suit in the second. It doesn't take a genius to work out the difference maker, Viktor Gyökeres, so often the talisman for Sporting these past two seasons. It's almost like the players went it'll be OK now Viktors on the field. Their belief appeared. Space appeared because Gil Vicente were tracking his runs in numbers. Reputation counts for an awful lot. He may not have scored but he did everything but with a 45 minute display where he showed no signs of fatigue or movement issues. The type of 45 minutes you can pin your hopes on between now and May. Keep Gyökeres fit and you're in with a ticket to win the lottery,.be it this competition or the league. Make that two tickets. Give the Swede Gonçalves back angry at suggestions he was banned for performance enhancing drugs and we could end the season how we started it. Now wouldn't that be something?

The truth remains though that whilst the game was one of two very differing displays either side of half time from each team Gil Vicente should have been out of sight. However should and actually being as we've seen are two very different things. 

At least tonight I feel like writing a summary. Not I suppose anyone cares either way but I do. With Gil Vicente chasing an equaliser Geny reminded us how good he is out on the right. It may have been a cameo appearance but an important one just as much as Gyökeres second half showing. 

Debast played well in the opening exchanges then went off the boil, but then again so did all his teammates other than Silva. He's undoubtedly got quality but sometimes you just have to do the basics well, the rest will come. Too many times the ball in the final third from all players wasn't good enough. This is still a team with underlying problems. Yet also it's a team hamstrung by ridiculous injuries and dismissals of their own making. Tonight we actually played against ten men. Maybe that was the only thing the referee got wrong. Should it have been a straight red as the last man instead of a second yellow card? It matters little. 

Quenda keeps up his run of appearances as the only player to feature in every game. It would be nice to see him do it for every game this season but maybe a spell coming off the bench wouldn't do the 17 year old any harm. Whilst he came alive more with Gyökeres causing problems down the left, he was a passenger at points. Brito is not on the same level as a Simões but again another young man thrust into the first team and who needs to adjust. Oliveira and Moreira not on long enough to make a real difference. Is it a positive more debuts keep coming from the academy or just a sign of reality in regards to squad depth? Or should that be lack of squad depth? We've seen nothing from Biel since his arrival. Well nothing of note anyway. 

Araújo looked hugely impressive Sunday but apart from his role in the sending off I'd be hard pressed to tell you anything he did tonight. Trincão huffed and puffed but couldn't blow their house down. I'm still not having Inácio even 201 appearances in. He's not a natural leader. He needs to be guided through a game. Hjulmand was a massive miss in midfield. The hope is he'll be back from injury Monday but it's touch and go having left Germany on crutches. 

Esgaio...well Esgaio is Esgaio. In the same way on Football Weekly Rabiot, is Rabiot is Rabiot. I'd maybe suggest Rabiot however is a far better player. Still he's got an engine on him and sometimes that's as important as anything else. Silva looks a huge upgrade on Israel. Sporting have generally always swapped their keepers for the cup but you saw the distrust of Kovačević when Israel played the last round and the same here. On his first half performance it was the right call. Man of the match would come down to Silva, Debast and Gyökeres. At half time there was only one man in the race, TV will give it to Debast no doubt so I'll go left field and give it to Gyökeres. He could have had a couple of goals. Claims the assist for the winning goal. His presence alone gave them belief and the lift they needed. They'll need to up their game in the semi finals if they want to be crowned winners at the end of the season. Rio Ave now awaits, the neighbours with the plum draw against Tirsense. Sorry fans of Tirsense but I've not got a fucking clue who the fuck you are. I'll keep it all crossed for you though on the day, eyes, legs, arms, toes and fingers if it helps?