Sporting CP 2 Gil Vicente 1

The warm up 

Last Sunday night away in the Bessa was an amazing spectacle, the Sportinguista's who attended in the thousands were akin to the drummers you might have once seen on ships going into battle in medieval times. Their rhythm and incredible passion over the course of the 90 minutes from the stand dictated what was happening on the pitch and helped have a seriously devastating effect on the home team. It came in huge contrast to what happened in the recent home game against Braga where the tension inside the stands of the Alvalade was palpable and most likely spilled over onto the pitch affecting the players' performance. If Sporting continues to harness that level of fusion together between what happens on the pitch and in the stands then anything remains possible between now and Jamor. It was almost mystical and bewitching in its power and an absolute joy to behold watching on at home. Both fans and players alike basically told Boavista - we got this. If you're a football tourist you'd do well to swerve the costly Premier League day trip and make a beeline to witness spectacles such as these and at a fraction of the cost. Oh and the weather tends to be pretty decent too compared to the shit that gets served up in England.  

The disparities between the top and bottom of the table were all too evident on Sunday night and in truth to the detriment of the national game in Portugal as a whole. Boavista second bottom playing second top and conceding five following Benfica temporarily returning top with their 6-0 thumping of AVS in the earlier kick off. Gyökeres finished the game with four goals. He was disappointed, genuinely disappointed at only scoring four times. How do you compete with that level if you're a Gil, Boavista, Farense, Estrela…

Do we really have to let Gyökeres go in the summer? Can't we have something akin to the NFL model where teams get to keep their superstars for longer? Oh man, we're going to miss him next season. Still we're living in the here and now and at the end of the night whether it's Boavista, Gil, Benfica or Vitória you have to beat what's in front of you. The lack of competitiveness from top to bottom is worrying though, especially as Portuguese clubs overall continue to falter in Europe which means Portugal's coefficient rankings continue to slip and no guarantees of automatic qualification into the Champions League for sides finishing runners up. Meanwhile in the Premier League, where all the money is already anyway, a top five finish will see you into the competition. Then they'll just continue to hoover up all the top talent from Portugal. It's a never ending cycle. 

Remember in Portugal the fixtures follow the pattern of those from the first round of 17 games and in those corresponding final four fixtures Sporting took only eight points from a possible twelve and even then one of those points came courtesy of a Trincão equaliser in additional time against the club Rui Borges had just left in the shape of Vitória finishing in a 4-4 draw. Let's hope they're not still super motivated for revenge against Borges in the Alvalade if it all comes down to the last game. I wrote at the time that this equalising goal could be the most critical one come the end of the season and that his penalty miss in the final of the Taça da Liga will fade into memory if that is proven to be the case. We're getting close to finding out. After weeks of games on top of games from weekend to midweek fixtures we're now at one a week. This doesn't help with the anxiety levels, we'll not mine anyway but I do have diagnosed OCD so I have an excuse. 

Benfica will look to go top again on Saturday night as they travel the short distance to Estoril. The pressure is now on for both Lisboa clubs and that pressure will either see you crumble or make diamonds. Sporting have been here before, they know what they need to do. They looked on their last legs this time last season yet somehow they made it to be coming Champions even if having to metaphorically crawl over the finishing line. Gyökeres was literally being held together by medical tape. This time around he's like the mythical monster that lives in the wardrobe. If you're a defender you'll have heard the stories and be hoping they're not real - keep that fucking wardrobe door shut. Some poor soul is going to have some sleepless nights ahead of facing him. Thankfully for Gil their work is done. They've not got that pressure to have to find a result to keep them in the league. It is now pretty much a three way shootout between AVS, Boavista and Farense on who can finish third from bottom and take their season into extra time with a two legged play off. That can only be good for Sporting right now in terms of Sunday night's game. Whereas we know what's at stake in the derby and if it all comes down to the final game then Vitória may well need the points to secure European football in fifth place. Given they lost their main source of goals from the sale of Jota Silva in the summer and the loss of their coach Rui Borges in December having led them at that stage to second spot in the Europa Conference League table, finishing fifth would be huge for them. Let's not forget they were sitting second to a Chelsea side assembled at a cost greater than every other side in the Europa League Conference competition combined. 

But back to matters at hand, one game at a time as the old cliche goes people's…

Firstly Happy Birthday to our visitors 101 years young the day before they arrive at the José Alvalade. Here's to another 101 years and don't think me rude Gil fans when I write I hope your celebrations ended on Saturday night. Any other opposition and I'd gladly wish three points for you. May they come against Arouca in front of your own fans next weekend.

If you take the Taça de Portugal game between the two teams in tonight's fixture played at the end of February as a base marker, Sporting have won 10 out of the last 11 games domestically. The only blot being the draw at the José Alvalade to Braga when they let a one goal lead slip. This will be the third meeting of the two teams in all competitions this season and an ideal chance to showcase how Sporting have grown under the stewardship of Rui Borges. In December, in what proved to be João Pereira's last game as Sporting coach the game finished 0-0. It's hard to argue that Sporting didn't deserve to come away with all 3 points, especially given that Gil finished with an xG of just 0.08 and their keeper on the night Andrew was voted man of the match and counted seven saves in total amongst his final statistics. Football as we all know is a game of fine margins. The 1-0 February in the Taça with a goal from Debast evidence of the progress at that point under the lions third coach of the season. Fast forward to the present day and we've just witnessed Sporting take apart Boavista at the Bessa 5-0. Gil will be fearful of a repeat of the mauling they received at the hands of the lions in last season's title run in when they went in 4-0 down at half time. Sporting I think sat in the stands, the second half, the job already completed. 

Much was made of the electric being turned off at the Bessa before the two sides met last Sunday night. Thankfully someone settled the bill so the game could go ahead but Monday saw the entire country thrown into darkness with a power outage so at least the Green and white half of Lisboa had Gyökeres as their guiding light after his performance on Sunday night. See what I did there? I don't just throw this shit together you know. He continues to chase a multitude of records, from chasing the magical 100 goal mark for the club, to beating the club record of 42 goals scored in a single league campaign to potentially beating Mo Salah to the Golden Boot. I'm still convinced unlike say a Ronaldo he'd swap any personal glory for a back to back league title winners medal and an elusive cup winners medal having been on the losing side in finals three times since his switch in the summer of 2023 from Coventry City. Let's not forget he lost the play off finals at Wembley before he left for Portugal so he'll be desperate to end the run which saw the lions end last season with a 2-1 defeat to Porto in the Taça de Portugal, a 4-3 defeat in the Super Taça in this season's opener and the defeat on penalties to the pigeons in the Taça da Liga. 

In the last 22 meetings head to head in all competitions Gil have just 3 wins and 2 draws, one of which we've already mentioned but Sporting have long since stopped smarting about the loss of Amorim on the pitch. 17 wins for the lions for anyone too lazy to do the maths. I mentioned Andrew's man of the match display in December which more than made up for his own goal in the 4-0. No need to repeat it again, you've settled that score Andrew. 

Away from home played 15, winning just 3, drawing 4 and losing just over 50% of all games played with 8 and hopefully soon to be 9 in 16. 14 goals scored on their travels so shy of under 1 a game and 25 conceded. 

Overall 31 goals scored against an xG of 31.8 so the two figures marry almost perfectly. 12 goals coming from set pieces and penalties so the boys at the back need to be alert. 10 players have found the net with Sporting academy graduate Felix Correia scoring 8. Pablo and Fujimoto both have 5 a piece. As a team they average just 3 shots on target per game, the 3rd lowest in the division which compares to 6.9 for Sporting. Gyökeres had 7 on Sunday night alone. 38 big chances missed for Gil. 

Overall they've conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game with 7 clean sheets which is less than 1 every 4 games. They may have gotten a 0-0 in December but few would put their money on a repeat Sunday night. 

27 long balls on average per game forth highest in the league - get it launched! 2.9 accurate crosses per game, the lowest in the league. Wing backs are due an easy night, well on paper at least then. Awarded just 3 penalties all season. Can't give em away if no one is in the box attacking the ball. 7 penalties conceded though. 5th most interceptions per game with 9.1 so they're at least alert to the danger. Just 2.5 saves per game and that figure was bumped up by Andrew's total in the home game! 11.5 fouls per game. Like Boavista last week maybe they need to toughen up. 

Just two bodies came in during the winter window; Sergio Bermejo a right midfielder from Real Zaragoza and João Marques a left winger on loan from Braga. Big chunk of change cashed for central midfielder Mory Gbane who joined Reims for £4.2 million. He'd made 16 starts in his 18 appearances and had an average rating of 7.04 so I imagine he's been a huge loss to their midfield in the second half of the season. 

So for Sporting Gyökeres took his tally to 38 goals and Trincão in his 150th game extended his total assists to 14. Last two games he's finished in a much deeper role and with Hjulmand one booking away from missing the derby you wonder if having him deeper for the entire game and Gyökeres starting further back, whether that forces their defence higher to try nullify Sporting's best two attacking outlets and provides acres of space for Trincão to spray balls into for the likes of Gyökeres, Geny and Quenda to run onto. I'd certainly not start Gonçalves after his poor showing last two games. I've made excuses for him, I won't waste my breath on more. Biel showed more in the Rio Ave cameo than Pote has in his two full opening 45s. One player definitely not in danger of picking up another yellow and therefore missing the derby is Diomande who fortuitously picked up a yellow on Sunday and serves his suspension for this game. That sadly does mean Inácio moves to the centre of the three which frankly always fills me with dred. 

At no stage this season have I thought we'd missed either Nuno Santos or Daniel Bragança post injury whereas I have with the youngster Simões. I guess the future of both rests firstly on how they've recovered but more importantly on who stays. Wide left I've seen Araújo, Geny, Quenda, Reis and Fresneda all put in better performances than I saw from Santos last season. I felt he was living of that Puskas nomination. Most of those mentioned aren't even naturally suited to the left. I appreciate Bragança has had two bad injuries but frankly being honest I've never rated him. I'm not sure which annoys me more, Gonçalves thinking he's Bruno Fernandes with his petulance everytime a decision goes against him or Bragança fart arsing around with his barnet. Borrow a hair tidy from the skipper or whatever they're called. He's like a little boy playing with his willy constantly. All those fucking shots missed from outside the box. If Bragança was the player he thinks he is in his head he'd be worth more on the open market than Viktor Gyökeres. He's a shoe in for botox injections and a hair transplant going into his 40s. 

Its going to be an interesting summer. Clearly we need a striker, I mean that sounds daft because we've already got arguably the best in Europe but that won't be for long. Another centre back if Inácio or Diomande depart, oh and another for St Juste if someone takes a punt on him with his injury record. We've already cashed in on Edwards and brought forward Allison Santos' move so he has time to adjust which seems really smart in the here and now. Any other season I'd be gutted at the prospect of losing Morita but we've seen a player who's been a shadow of former hinself in former seasons hampered by injuries and certainly not helped by international travel with the World Cup qualification campaign going on with Japan. He's made one hell of a contribution though during his time and one of the nicest human beings going I'm reliably informed. Now feels the right time for him to depart but I'll always be a fan of him as a man and as a footballer. Simões will be locked into a long term contract and again even before the market opens in the summer Sporting have signed Giorgi Kochorashvili from Levante but they'll need another body in there. I've no idea whether Koindredi's loan to Lausanne included an option to buy or not but he never convinced when given the chance. What happens with Debast? Can you put the genie back into the bottle and does he go back into a 3 or does Borges push to finally go with his back 4 and hes one of a central pairong? Does Borges even stay? Why am I rushing ahead of myself? My original point I wanted to make was about Trincão and Gonçalves and I've instead bounced off the walls. Yes my mind is like this 24/7. Yes it is utter chaos. 

OK final point for now. I may have only watched the opening 45 minutes of Barca v Inter but it was enough to convince me that the gap in quality between Quenda and Yamal is night and day. Having read a few Sporting fans claiming we'd sold him on the cheap in the here and now it looks like great business. He's no where near the level of quality of the Spanish international. 

Friday update - confirmation that Biel will be allowed to leave the club on loan in the summer window. As usual what do I know having been impressed by his cameo against Rio Ave which left me convinced there is a capable player in there. I never thought that about Koindredi this time last year. The underlying suggestion is that he could return in the future. Apart from the youngsters they never do return. Even the youngsters don't always now after Mateus Fernandes was shipped off to Southampton and Dário Essugo will go to Chelsea in the summer. We shall see if I'm wrong. I don't think I will be. 

Saturday update - Despite a second half goal Estoril are unable to do the lions a favour as they go down 2-1 to the dirty pigeons to leap frog Sporting back into first place. A win tomorrow puts us back on top meaning a win in the derby and the race is all over. No pressure gentlemen. 

Previous meetings 

February 27th, 2025

Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 1

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2025/02/gil-vicente-v-sporting-cp.html

December 22nd, 2024

Sporting CP 0 Gil Vicente 0

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2024/12/gil-vicente-v-sporting-cp.html

April 12th, 2024

Gil Vicente 0 Sporting CP 4

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2024/04/gil-vicente-vs-sporting-cp.html

December 4th, 2023

Sporting CP 3 Gil Vicente 1

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2023/12/gil-vicente-h.html

In the markets 

Sporting 1/8

Draw 13/2

Gil Vicente 20/1

Team News 

Starting XI

Silva, Quaresma, St Juste, Inácio, Geny, Debast, Morita, Araujo, Trincão, Gyökeres and Gonçalves 

Substitutes 

Israel, Reis, Fresneda, Hjulmand, Esgaio, Quenda, Felicissimo, Harder and Biel

No matter how many times you tell yourself it's just a game of football, for me at least I know there's no point in lying to myself. An hour before the game the anxiety kicks in though if we win tonight it will be nothing like every day in the build up to the Derby. Fail to win tonight and we're frankly up shit creek without a paddle. So no Diomande out through suspension. The big question being whether Borges starts with captain Hjulmand, one booking away from missing the derby? The answer is no. Borges won't risk it for a chocolate biscuit. Morita in for the Dane and St Juste in for Diomande. Otherwise as you were the win against Boavista in the Bessa. Gonçalves needs to prove his worth tonight. If he doesn't then he's a passenger we can't carry into the derby. Borges adds Felicíssimo into the matchday squad as a further option in midfield despite Sporting B having earlier played a massive game against Varzim as they continue to push for promotion. Sporting finally overcame the resistance of the men with goals from João Muniz in the 74th minute and Luis Gomes one minute into additional time. The win keeps them second in an automatic promotion slot. Two games remaining with city rivals Belenenses four points behind. 

First Half

The Alvalade showing Arsenal how to put on a pre game display as the stadium decked in stripes of green and white horizontal going around every level. The entire pitch engulfed with smoke, this time from the club and not the fans. Sporting captained by Inácio play in black with green and white stripes. Trincão presented with a commemorative shirt to mark 150 games as a lion. Rain pours down as the players stand in tribute in the centre circle. 

Sporting have a history of not playing well in the wet conditions. Gil get the game underway, Sporting attack right to left in the opening 45.

1 St Juste has thankfully started central of the three. I feel better having him there than Inácio 

1 Gil defending with their players all concentrated within an 18 yard space

2 Trincão appeals for a corner as his shot from ten yards clearly cannons off the calf of the defender but not given 

2 Trincão nutmegs Buatu and taken out as his reward. Free kick centrally 30 yards out

3 Debast gets his delivery all wrong and the ball goes straight out for a goal kick

5 Thankfully Gonçalves appears at the races tonight as all three forward players causing the defence issues in the opening five minutes 

6 Having just written that Gonçalves gets it all wrong and his chip into the box zips onto the arms of Andrew

8 The visitors with their first real foray into the Sporting half. Defence does their job well and clears their lines

9 Another awful final ball from Gonçalves inside the box. Clearly I spoke too soon. Ignore my comment in minute 5

9 Morita picks out Araújo with a superb ball into the area but his header back across goal can't find another Sporting shirt and ends up out for a goal kick 

11 Give the visitors their dues they are incredibly disciplined with their shape 

12 This game with shades of PSV with players failing to keep their footing. Quaresma the second Sporting player in the space of ten seconds to hit the deck 

13 Trincão brings out an incredible save from Andrew from seven yards 

14 Around the half way line Gil just sat 18 yards inside their own half. There's space to exploit if they can deliver the right ball

15 Debast on defensive duties takes no chances sliding to cut out a cross from the left for a corner. Replays of the Trincão effort it was actually blocked by the defender in front 

16 Header back at the far post easily dealt with by Rui Silva who's had very little to do the last three games 

17 Maybe signs that the rain has either stopped or is at least abating. I'm going to say it's stopped 

18 Wonderful control by St Juste with a forward charging in, calmly sweeps the ball out to Quaresma on the right 

19 Whistles start as Andrew continues the time wasting from goal kicks. Better balls into the box gentleman and he'd maybe be picking the ball out the net. 

20 You can tell the quality of a game by the fact they're showing Nuno Santos, his wife and their kids in the stands and a very glum folded armed Bragança on the end presumably sat next to his partner who's more interested in her phone in hand 

21 Mutombo bumped off the ball in the area. Good job there was a hoarding there to stop him because he carries on going out of play. 

22 Referee has jogged all the way to the other end of the pitch where Mutombo had come back onto the field of play rather than getting treatment off of it.

23 I think this will be a penalty as they show the replay. St Juste makes no connection with the ball whatsoever as the referee having now run to the sidelines is watching the replays on the monitor 

24 Penalty given. Yellow to St Juste. Can't really argue with that one 

25 Rui Silva gives Correira a cold stare. Whistles from all corners try to put the ex Sporting player off. GOAL Sporting CP 0 Gil Vicente 1 as he takes one step and fires into the top left hand corner over the hand of Silva. Said we don't play well in the rain 

27 Well the fans had hidden their anxiety up until that point. Let's see how they respond and whether they can lift the players 

28 Another awful ball this time from Geny on the right when Sporting were in prime retail space inside the box 

30 This is a position Sporting have rarely found themselves in over the last two years. On the back foot again but Quaresma expertly mops up on the edge of the area. Not a deliberate joke about the weather but if the cap fits wear it

30 Gonçalves snap shot blocked from 19 yards 

31 Last defender throws his body in between Trincão and the ball and Andrew quickly off his line to snuff out the danger 

32 Geny picks the ball up wide right and gets his shot away from between two defenders from 14 yards into the side netting 

32 Another poor ball from Geny straight to Andrew. This is not going to plan. Problem is they're only human and as anxious as the rest of us 

34 Crowd getting very restless now as Debast penalised for a shove inside the visitors half 

35 Trincão effort blocked as he tries from 24 yards and out for a throw 

36 Gil hunting 3 on 3 up front with that goal lead in their back pocket. 

36 Gonçalves easily dispossessed and ends up in a heap once more afterwards. Can see him getting shanked again half time 

37 Geny chopped down on the right of the area. 

38 Debast with the free kick once more. Level with the edge of the 18 yard box he tries to find a head at the far post but its cleared for a corner. 

38 St Juste picked out beyond the far post but Gil have bodies back in numbers and he can only find a defender with his header back into the area 

39 This crowd is ready to blow as Quaresma punished for a challenge in the corner on Correia 

42 Corner Sporting again easily cleared as it fails to beat the first man 

43 Araújo yellow carded for a late challenge inside the visitors half 

Plus four shown 

+1 Yellow to Pablo not sure what for wasn't watching. 

+2 Corner far side for Sporting. Again awful ball in 

+2 Trincão turns and shoots from 24 yards but well wide of the far right post 

Half time 

Sporting CP 0 Gil Vicente 1 

Call it nerves, call it the wet weather, call it what you like but that was a disastrous opening 45 for Sporting. Their passing has been woeful in the final third. Gil have offered little but took the advantage from a Sporting error. We're reliving Braga all over again except this time we weren't a goal up when we conceded. I'll forgive the players for being nervous. This is a huge game. I'd be shitting it too. It might have been a gamble to keep Hjulmand on the bench but in this weather one misplaced challenge will mean a booking. We saw that with Araújo a minute before half time. If Sporting can get back into it the second half it won't be questioned. He probably should have just taken a booking in the last game and sat the game out like Diomande. Sporting 45 minutes from conceding the title. 

I said in the buildup Gonçalves shouldn't have started and he did nothing to dissuade me from that opinion. I'd yank him off again at half time and ask what's been the point when he's nowhere near the races? Trincão has looked the best threat from an attacking sense and was unfortunate to see his early effort blocked but in truth even that is being generous. One of most anonymous halves from Gyökeres, I can't even remember him having a shot and when he's being kept out the game you know you're in a whole heap of trouble. 

I talked in the minute by minute about their organisation in defence. Story of Sporting's season struggling to find a way through a tightly packed area but that being said it's the quality of their own final ball that's killing them the most. It's a case of fighting for who has been the most guilty? Debast, Gonçalves, Geny? You can afford to have one not quite at the races but three in these conditions and under this amount of pressure is too many. We need a goal back fast there's no two ways about it. A point really isn't enough because it leaves us under even more pressure next week than when we kicked off tonight and on the evidence seen already I don't think we can handle it. Is Beyonce a sub?

Second half

Sporting get us back underway. No changes at half time 

46 Morita penalised for a foul on Pablo as Sporting looked to attack 

47 Inácio knocks the ball straight out of play and another attack stopped by their own making 

47 Clash of heads between Pablo and St Juste. Not sure how much contact there was. I think this is gamesmanship from the visitors 

49 Game back underway after treatment. Another poor pass. Pablo goes down under contact again. Sporting never learn. This is going to be their plan all half. Gonçalves wound up as per usual. 

49 Marvin shown a yellow for a poor challenge on Trincão. Referee tried to play an advantage when there really wasn't one on. That was vicious and poorly timed. Possibly a red? 

51 Gil will grow more confident with every minute this is all too easy for them 

52 Finally something of note as Gonçalves with a clever 180° turn and shot from 19 yards which goes wide of the right hand post 

53 St Juste cuts out a cross for a corner ball on the far side. Headed away by the first man

54 Gil defender cleverly plants his feet and let's Araújo run into him and wins a free kick in the area 

55 I'd be amazed if Sporting can even get the point let alone all three. We need a hero from somewhere any takers gentlemen?

56 Sporting now stopping dead with the ball just trying to draw players out but they still cannot find any space at all

57 Triple substitution coming up by the looks of things. Harder and Quenda looked like they were taking off their bibs running back to the bench 

57 Exasperation on the face of Geny as another player goes down under the slightest of touches 

58 Trincão shot from twenty yards out out for another corner. Again poor delivery and ends up in the hands of Andrew

59 Play acting from the player struck with the Trincão shot. He deserves an Oscar 

59 The home crowd is literally losing their shit. Karma would decree they'll get punished at some point for time wasting but we did sing through the minutes silence for the Pope last week 

61 May the fourth be with you substitutes on Star Wars day 

62 Corner Sporting. No idea why I'm writing these in as they've done nothing from them all night…and again 

62 Offside against Gil. That's literally the first time they've tried to attack 

63 Gonçalves, Morita and St Juste replaced by Hjulmand, Harder and Quenda. Presumably Debast drops back into the centre of the three. 

64 Debast does indeed slot into the centre and his first job is to carry the ball from the area to the halfway line

64 Replays of St Juste losing his shit on the bench gesticulating and throwing his jacket as Edu pretends not to look on

65 Gil substitutes doing their best tortoise impressions as they leave the field 

66 Araújo sums up the entire night as he slips on his arse and the ball goes out for a goal kick 

67 Yellow to Andrew for time wasting. Only 47 minutes after he started it 

68 22 minutes to save a season. I'm not holding my breath as a Harder cross goes straight into the arms of Andrew 

68 Sporting xG 0.27 tells you all you need to know. We couldn't buy a goal right now 

69 Debast nips the ball off the attacker inside the box. One change that has at least worked 

70 Gyökeres double teamed again. 

70 Harder at least looks at the races as he tries to combine with Hjulmand 

71 Marques wipes out Araújo. Free kick from the left in the final third

72 Quenda straight into the arms of Andrew . You couldn't convince me on any level we can equalise in this game if we played until Christmas 

73 Poor ball in from Quenda straight at the first defender 

73 The visitors have still had one shot the entire game, namely that of the penalty

77 Geny long ball straight out of play again. All eyes on St Juste on the bench. Is he going to do a Fábio Coentrão and smash his fist throw perspex?

77 More play acting on the edge of the Sporting area. Araújo catches him with the tip of a finger at the most and he went down like Jenga 

79 Andrew with the strong punch clear flattens Gyökeres but nothing doing 

80 Ten minutes to save a season….oh my fucking god…GOAL. Harder shot cannons off the defender into the path of Araújo who whips it into the net with the outside of his boot to make it Sporting CP 1 Gil Vicente 1.

81 VAR check confirms Araújo onside. The noise inside the stadium just went up 100 decibels

82 Geny replaced by Biel. Now's your time kid to make a name for yourself 

85 Quenda taken out centrally… I say that. Free kick given. Not sure there was any contact 

86 Gyökeres stood over the ball. Free kick 22 yards out. Trincão takes it and smashes the post. Fuck me 

87 I was half way to China as a Harder header plucked out the air from 8 yards by Andrew 

88 Gil Vicente coach giving it the V’s. Definitely doesn't mean what is does here in England 

89 Mboula with the play acting. Inácio remonstrates with the linesman. Just don't touch him in the first place and give the player the excuse to go down

Plus five indicated

+1 Debast tries for the spectacular from range but well wide of the right hand post 

+2 Gyökeres header on the edge of the six yard box deflected for a corner 

+2 GOAL Sporting CP 2 Gil Vicente 1. Quaresma has reduced me to tears as he drills it home from 20 yards. He's in tears as he takes the congratulations from his teammates 

+5 Gyökeres has to be separated. Someone pull him away so he doesn't get sent off 

+6 Reis on the sidelines. Confirmation yellow to Quaresma most likely for his celebration taking his shirt off. He won't care

+6 Trincão off for Reis. 96’37

+7 Blow the fucking whistle 

Full time 

Sporting CP 2 Gil Vicente 1 

The final word 

Quaresma unsurprisingly the centre of attention as Sporting players huddle together. Biggest hug of all for him from St Juste. Stadium announcer over the PA confirms Quaresma as the official man of the match. If you could have written it for any player to score the winner you'd have nominated it for him to be the man. Everyone knows what this club means to the boy and he may well just have written his place in the history books. Maybe not get ahead of ourselves here when I write that... 

That's at least the fourth time in two seasons I can remember the visitors coming to time waste and getting caught with their pants down. They offered the sum total of fuck and all offensively. Were it not for the penalty their xG would have been 0, that their only shot on goal. That being said boy did they make it hard for Sporting but Sporting made it much, much harder on themselves and I've aged ten years in 90 minutes. 

I wonder if the Benfica players were watching that together somewhere and were already in their minds starting to plan their celebrations next week knowing a draw would have been enough and if so whether that just plants that little seed of doubt that it's not going to be their year after all. We can only hope. Certainly enough rain about at the start of the game for it to take seed over the next week. 

I won't insult your intelligence by claiming Sporting deserved to win. However they were the only side of the two that were trying to win. Gil came with a game plan and they stuck to it rigidly and credit to them. Gamesmanship aside which drives me potty to a man they did their jobs tonight. Their heads will be down but they made Sporting work for it and sometimes fortunes favour the brave first with the deflection falling to Araújo and then to Quaresma with time and space on the edge of the box. I can't tell you if it was a clean strike. You'll forgive me for going mental at that point. You can always tell how violent a celebration it is when your phone light comes on. Christ that was emotional. I've not got too many more of those that my heart can take. 

At half time I spoke of anxiety, of the nerves. Hopefully this is the type of victory that settles them going into next week. Pass the baton onto the home players and fans and let them deal with it. They know truthfully now that they have to win. Sporting can claim a point and know victory against Vitória which is of course Portuguese for victory … get me… I know right … will win them the title. Lose and it's staying in the green and white half of Lisboa. They won't be trying to finish 90 minutes without registering a single shot on target. Had we lost to a penalty tonight it may have destroyed me. Still it didn't. 

I didn't think Morita did a lot wrong. There was a challenge on Hjulmand second half which wasn't penalised from behind that I couldn't help but think if the other way around he'd have been given the yellow. It's hard to think he won't miss the last game and will get booked next week but I'd rather have him in for the full 90 next week. Ironically him coming on changed Debast’s night and he was as excellent at the back as he was poor from his delivery in the final third. Define irony. Apart from the penalty the back three really didn't put a foot wrong. That's what happens though when you don't rotate your defenders enough during the season. His reaction on the bench was poor but that's because he cares and was desperate to put it right on the pitch. I'm perfectly OK with that. I don't want players who don't care and shy away and don't take responsibility at the end of the day.

The substitutions worked and oddly for Hjulmand knowing a booking would make him miss next week seemed to make him slow down, take more care over his actions and play all the better for it. Measured passes, no silly challenges, no back chat to the referee. 

It wasn't Geny's night. Nor was it Quenda's when he came on though maybe brighter than Geny with legs starting to tire. Araújo was always at it, but not quite with it. I care very little when he scores his second it two games. Last week it was the cherry, this week the hope that the force was strong on Star Wars day after all. Harder is a gigantic pain in the arse and I love him all the more for it. He grows in stature with every minute played and I have high hopes he'll fill the boots of Gyökeres long term and become a cult figure in his own right. 

Gonçalves cannot be in that starting XI next week. We just cannot carry him again. He's offered nothing but petulance. We don't need that, we need some quality in and around the box. No I lie he did have the turn and shot in the second half…which went well wide. Just please don't start him. I don't care if he sulks. He'll have to grow up with a baby on the way. Babies cannot have babies. 

Viktor… Viktor, Viktor, Viktor they did a number on you tonight and Christ did we know it when you lost your rag at the end of the game. I can still count the times I've seen you have a bad game on one hand. Maybe it's snuck onto two but I couldn't name them other than tonight and against Rio Ave. But a pissed off Viktor always seems to be bad news for the next opponents. We can only hope. Trincão started well but faded towards the end. He's played the most minutes of any player this season. Just three more games to go son you've got this. He came closest in both halves to making the difference and really if we hadn't have won would probably have just edged my vote for man of the match. Oh so close with that free kick that clanged off the right hand post. 

So I guess that leaves my own man of the match. Can only be one really, has to be Quaresma. Was it Porto when he scored only to see it disallowed? He's waited a long time to have that same feeling. Maybe I should try work out whether the strike was clean. Oh well rather unhelpfully they've not loaded the goals just the challenge on Trincão that possibly should and could have been a red card.