AVS Futebol SAD 1 Sporting CP 1

AVS Futebol SAD v Sporting CP

Sunday April 26th, 2026

Estádio do CD Aves

Matchday 30

The warm up 

I thought we'd begin this post a little differently and wind the clock back twenty years and look at the 2005/06 season of FC Penafiel for reasons that will soon become apparent and relevant to Sportings next opponents. Founded in the February of 1951 they are based in the town with which they share their name. The town itself is located in the north of Portugal in the district of Porto and has now grown to a population of fifteen and a half thousand although that figure was probably less at the time they were in the top flight of Portuguese football, then known as the Liga BWin owing to the three year sponsorship deal between 2006 and 2008 with betting operator BWin. Nicknamed the Rubro-Negros (red and black) their home is the Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril. Currently they ply their trade in Liga 2 along with Sporting B and are 3 points above the relegation places. 

Rewinding back once more, they won promotion from Liga 2 in the 2003/04 season and managed to stay up with a record of played 34, winning 13, drawing 4 but losing 17 times. GF 39 GA 53. All things considered a win ratio of above 1:3 was an impressive feet for a side whose ground holds just 5,230 and expectations to repeat that relative level of success must have been relatively high going into the next season under the then mister Luís Castro 

Their 2005/06 season began in late August with back to back losses, first at home to Rio Ave 2-0 and then away to Braga 1-0. 

P2 L2 GF 0 GA 3

The month of September was hardly an improvement as they lost 3-0 at home to Belenense, but at least secured their first point in a 2-2 draw away to Marítimo. The final game of the month saw a 3-1 loss away to Benfica. 

P3 D1 L2 GF 3 GA 7

October started with a 2-0 away loss to Nacional and a 1-0 loss at home to Vitória Setúbal. They secured their second point of the season with a 2-2 draw away to Paços de Ferreira before finally they secured their first win of the season on October 30th coming at home to Académica. Bruno Sousa scored the winning goal 15 minutes before the end of the 90 in a 1-0 win.

P4 W 1 D1 L2 GF 3 GA 5

At the start of November they secured a third 2-2 draw of the season away to Gil Vicente to stretch their unbeaten run to 3 games. However Sporting brought that mini revival to an end as they lost that game 1-0. Another point won in a 1-1 draw with União de Leiria away from home, took their points tally to 7 from a possible 36. 

P3 D2 L1 GF 3 GA 4

December saw four straight losses for FCP, first 2-1 away to Boavista, then 1-0 at home to Vitória, 3-1 away to Porto and finally 1-0 to Estrela at home. I imagine there were a few kids telling Santa to go fuck himself if he left Penafiel kits under the tree that particular Christmas. 

P4 L4 GF 2 GA 7

January wasn’t much better and commenced with back to back losses away to Naval 4-1 and Rio Ave 2-0 to make it six losses on the spin. Their 0-0 home draw on January 19th to Braga was their first point won since November 27th. They rounded out another dismal month with a 5-0 away loss to Belenenses.

P 4 D1 L3 GF 1 GA 11

February begins with another win, this came at home to Marítimo finishing 3-2. Despite Kanú opening the scoring on 15 minutes for the islanders, Penafiel levelled through Roberto Ballesteros on 31 minutes. A Dill goal on the hour gave them a 2-1 lead which lasted all of 3 minutes before Lomba turned into his own net to make it 2-2. It was Bruno Sousa, the player who secured their first win of the season way back in October who scored the winner 15 minutes from the end of time and coincidentally that was also in the 75th minute. Sadly the rest of the month reverted to type. A 4-0 thumping away to Benfica was followed by a 2-1 loss at home to Nacional and a 2-0 loss to Vitória Setúbal. Yet if nothing else they'd won their second game after 21 rounds played. 

P4 W1 L3 GF4 GA10.

March started with another 2-2 draw, this coming at home to Paços de Ferreira but was followed by a 1-0 loss to Académica away. A 1-1 draw at home to Gil Vicente at least added another point to their total before losing 2-0 to Sporting at the José Alvalade.

P4 D2 L2 GF 3 GA 6

Each start of a new month for some reason brings a better result. They draw at home to União de Leiria 1-1 and 0-0, again at home, to Boavista. That was on April 10th and took their points tally up to 15 of the 90 that had been on offer. That point was to be the last won of their campaign with 4 rounds still remaining. They rounded off the month of April with a 3-1 away loss to Vitória and a 1-0 home loss to Porto.

P5 D2 L3 GF2 GA6

Their final game of the season came on May 7th, 2006 a 1-0 home loss to Naval. It was a fitting way to end a campaign which remains as the worst ever from a Portuguese top flight team. They finished bottom 19 points off both Rio Ave and SC Vitória. All three clubs however were relegated. Their final record reads played 34, won 2, drawn 9, lost 23. GF 21, GA 61. 

So let's briefly recap and remind you that their first win came in October, however it remains important to stress that by the end of their campaign in early May 2006 they had at least won twice. 

So let's fast forward 20 years back to the present day. The lions opponents for Matchday 30 AVS Futebol SAD have 5 games to surpass FC Penafiel’s record for the worst ever points tally in the Portuguese top flight which will begin tonight away to Rio Ave. At present their record reads played 29, won 1, drawn 9, lost 19. GF 19, GA 62. So even with 5 games remaining they've already conceded 1 more than the 2005/06 Penafiel campaign. Their first win finally came on Matchday 22 on February 15th so someone must have gotten a belated Valentine's Day treat. Penafiel by February were at least on their second win of the campaign. It's fair to say it's been a painful season for the club which Google helpfully automatically translates from Portuguese to English into SAD Birds whenever I look at the league table online. Never has a club name seemed more apt. Rival supporters of Deportivo Wanka might take umbrage with that statement but I'm pretty sure they won't be reading this so we should be OK. 

I'm writing this two days after our exit to Arsenal in the Champions League, two days in advance of the Dérbi on Sunday and five days out from the Clássico away at the Dragão. I'm reminded of the Boavista post at the tail end of last season where the club had just had their electricity cut off at the stadium and weren't just on the brink of relegation but of going out of business altogether so it feels crass to moan about anything at all with our campaign by comparison so I'll try avoid the ire of any fans of AVS who might be reading this. I'll keep everything crossed that you get your win to at least level the 15 points total before you're relegated but you'll forgive me if I don't keep things crossed that you get it against Sporting for obvious reasons. I can however confirm all of Sporting's fans will be fully behind you on May 10th at home to Porto. 

So of their total of 19 goals scored, 15 have been from open play, 2 from set pieces and 2 from penalties. Not even our old friend own goal has thought to lend them a hand the miserable bastard. They've not helped their case by underperforming their XG which stands at 24.7 before the Rio Ave game. Their home record is played 15, won 1, drawn 5, lost 9, GF 11, GA 25 accounting for two thirds of their overall points tally. 

Top scorer Nene with 4 (he's just a mere 42 years of age by the way), Duarte and Tomané have 3 apiece and I might as well throw in Perea with his 2. Six players share the remaining six goals. 

What follows I'm sure will not be a surprise. Fewest goals scored of any team at an average of 0.7 per game. Most goals conceded at an average of 2.1 per game. Fewest clean sheets with 4. Casa Pia do have a lower XG by 0.1 but have scored 9 times more. An average of 2.9 shots on target per game with a conversion rate of 6%. Higher than Casa Pia’s total again mind. Lowest number of big chances created with 37. Ahead of the Dérbi Sporting have created the most with 102. Big chances missed totals 24. 

11th for average crosses per game which I only included because it's the first where they're not bottom or a sliver above Casa Pia on second bottom. Four penalties awarded to them with a converstion rate of just 50%. Worst of all Xg conceded with the total of 52.5 which makes them having conceded 62 times all the worse. Eleventh for average interceptions. Worst record in the league for that metric? Step forward Rui Borges men. Second for most clearances on average with 32.1 behind Casa Pia. Get it launched gentlemen. Seven penalties conceded, six of which have been scored. Ninth for average fouls per game with 14.1. Fourth lowest total of bookings with 62, third highest total of sending's off with 5. Har, how about those last two as a contradiction?

This will be the third meeting between the two sides this campaign. They met in the Taça de Portugal in February when Sporting needed extra time to advance having gifted AVS two second half penalties. Guilherme scored his first and only goal for the club after 28 minutes. A Vitor own goal 3 minutes after the restart made it 2-0 and I, like most I'm sure, imagined it was job done against the leagues bottom side. Lima made it 2-1 on 62 and Nene at the age of 97 made it 2-2 a minute into additional time. Finally Geny broke the deadlock with the winner 4 minutes before the end of extra time to avoid the need for penalties. 

The league game in December went very much to type even after an early penalty awarded to Sporting after five minutes was overturned. Suárez, Araújo and Geny all scored a brace in a 6-0 win. Let's not count AVS out though. Having been 2-0 up in this fixture last season after 32 minutes, Zé Luis scored a penalty on 70 minutes to make it 2-1. Diomande was shown a red card on 77 minutes and Gustavo Mendonça stole a point five minutes into additional time at the end of the 90 for a 2-2 draw. 

Transfers

Winter window 

Incoming 

Mateus Pivo from Brusque on loan

Andre Green free agent 

Antoine Baroan from FC Rapid for free

Roni from Mirassol for £1.2m

Ariel Ramos from Gremio on loan 

These followed picking up free agents in between the windows; Carlos Ponck, ex-lion and all round plonker Ruben Semedo and Gustavo Assuncao. They managed to get eleven players off their books in January and you'll forgive me for not bothering to list them all. 

Now normally at this junction I break down all the games since the last time the two sides met but it's pretty depressing reading to give you a full picture so you'll forgive an abbreviated format. They beat Vitória away 1-0 in the Taça de Portugal the game directly after the 6-0 thumping at the José Alvalade. That their second win after the 7-0 thumping of Fornos de Algodres in the previous round. They've drawn 2-2 at home to Nacional, 3-3 away with Casa Pia, 0-0 at home to Estrela, 0-0 away to Alverca, 0-0 with Tondela away and last game managed a 1-1 at home to Vitória. Current unbeaten record before Rio Ave? One game. Losses to Porto 2-0 away, Moreirense home 2-0, Arouca home 1-0 and Braga away 4-0 before defeat to Sporting in the Taça. That was followed by the 3-1 loss to Famalicão away. 

Matchday 22 - Estoril (H). You know what's coming don't you. 0-0 at half time Duarte puts them ahead on 53, Tomané made it 2-0 on 74 and Algobia made it 3-0 some five minutes into additional time at the end of the 90 and Ian Cathro's men became the first team and only team to lose to them this season. Xg 1.08 to 1.10. Estoril missed both their big chances. AVS scored both of theirs. 

Their joy didn't last long. A 3-0 loss to Benfica the match after. They've also subsequently lost 1-0 at home to Santa Clara and 3-0 away to Gil Vicente. They gave in fairness, even if they've not won, only lost 2 of their last six games so they're edging ever closer to that tally of 15 points. Will they equal it or better it is the question? I'm fairness knowing my fortune by the time you read this they'll have beaten Rio Ave and I could have saved myself an awful lot of time and research but them's the breaks and I try give you original content. If nothing else we've all learned how bad that FC Penafiel side were back in 2005/06. 

Friday night update - Despite my best efforts in rushing to get this out before the Rio Ave game it still wasn't enough to get AVS an away win. They fell behind in bizarre circumstances on 17 minutes. Pohlmann scuffs a shot from 22 yards, goalkeeper Adriel Ramos bends down to pick it up and misses it with his hands. The ball hits his foot, spins up in slow motion onto the post behind him and spins back into the net for 1-0. They've credited the attacker with the goal because it was on target but it's an own goal all day long. On 31 minutes Tomané makes it 1-1 sweeping home from six yards. Lima almost made it 2-1 to AVS in the 67th minute with an effort from outside the box which strikes the back of a defender, catches the Rio Ave keeper flat footed and somehow rebounds behind for a corner. Thankfully for Lima and AVS Lima then does actually score from 6 yards. So AVS all set to make my research frankly worth the sum total of fuck and all but I needn't have worried. Ntoi swept home from 2 yards on 78 minutes and the points were shared with a 2-2 draw which as we've learned is a very FC Penafiel scoreline from 2005/06. Xg 2.36 to 1.60. Four big chances for Rio Ave, three missed. AVS scored two of their three. So now they have 13 points. Two to level, three to move past FC Penafiel. 

Saturday update - Following Nacional's 1-0 win over Alverca and Casa Pia's 0-0 draw later in the day at home to Santa Clara, AVS's fate finally sealed and they'll start life back in Liga 2 next August. 

Sporting CP Feminino

Sporting CP v Rio Ave

Saturday April 25th, 2026

Matchday 16

Starting XI

Wozniak, Barron, Cherry, Eaton-Collins, Cancelinha, Bravo, Neto, Martins, Perez, Santiago and Encarnação 

Substitutes Used

Hernandez-Gray, Arques, Bonseguendo, Naves and Armengol

The lionesses fell behind on 20 minutes through a goal from Chardonnay Curran and went into the break 1-0 down. On the hour mark Bonseguendo and Hernandez-Gray were brought on for Santiago and Bravo and the latters introduction proved pivotal in changing Sporting's fortunes. First her corner on the near side found the head of Barron who headed home on 66 minutes from 2 yards out with one of those did it, didn't it cross the line bounces. The referee said it did and the game was level at 1-1. Three minutes later she dinked a pass over the top of the defenders for Telma to run onto and she forced the ball home from 7 yards to turn the game on its head and Sporting led 2-1. Three substitutions in the 89th minute as Sporting looked to secure all 3 points with Telma being replaced by Nave, Neto for Armengol and Martins for Arques. The ladies saw the game over the line for three points which keeps them in second place ahead of Torreense in third. 

Sporting B

Vizela v Sporting CP

Sunday April 26th, 2016

Matchday 31

With the wheels very much coming off the youngsters season there's a change in formation to a 4-3-3 and a change in goal as João Gião takes on a Vizela side with the two teams separated by just 3 points going into kick off. Callai not only replaced but not in the matchday squad. Two other notable absences, that of Felicíssimo and Blopa who presumably will form part of the matchday squad against AVS later on tonight. 

Starting XI 

Francisco Silva, Moreira, Rômulo, Mota, Cardoso, Justo, Rayan, Dias, Gonçalves, Anjos and Couto.

Half time 1-0

Vizela take the lead on 9 minutes through a goal from Moerschel.

Despite ringing the changes in the second half bringing on Mendonça, Mendoza, Costa, Muniz and Gabriel Silva the lions succumb to their sixteenth defeat of the campaign. 

In the markets 

AVS Futebol SAD - 16/1

Draw - 7/1 

Sporting CP - 1/10

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Mangas, Debast, Diomande, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Morita, Gonçalves, Trincão, Quenda and Nel

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Araújo, Quaresma, Bragança, Blopa, Felicíssimo, Geny, Guilherme, and Suárez 

Changes to three of the back four as Quaresma, Inácio and Araujo are replaced with Vagiannidis, Debast and Mangas. Inácio absence most certainly due to injury as is that of captain Hjulmand in midfield with Kochorashvili given his first start of the new year. Gonçalves returns with Geny missing out though note Quenda swaps out wide for the Mozambique winger and Pote retains his usual position on the left of the three who sit behind the forward who tonight will be Nel replacing Suárez. Blopa and Felicíssimo as predicted both in the matchday squad. Araújo, Quaresma, Geny and Suárez are all options from the bench. 

AVS Starting XI 

1 Ramos

97 Pivô

42 Devenish

3 Vitor 

12 Rivas

70 Roni

23 Mendonça 

8 Lima 

11 Akinsola

20 Duarte

21 Neiva

Two changes by João Henriques from the 2-2 draw against Rio Ave. Goalscorer Tomané and Perea are replaced by Duarte and Neiva. Tomané is suspended. 

First Half 

The lions in their third kit, or maybe fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth. It's the all teal one with black detailing. Or is it aquamarine or maybe duck egg? AFS come out to their rendition of the Maradona song which is ironic given social media has been awash with Gonçalves doing kickups to it in the Dragão. Trincão is captain as I suspect he will be full time next season when Hjulmand departs for new shores. Sporting get us underway and will attack left to right. Rui Borges dressed as always in grey yawns his head off on the touchline. The sky on the far side is a beautiful pale pink. 

1 Morita looks for the run of Quenda on the right but over cooked his pass and out for a goal kick 

1 Morita penalised for a foul in midfield 

2 AVS break on the right with a long run from close to the half way line all the way into the box which Debast eventually deals with and the lions clear 

3 Kochorashvili penalised for a shirt pull in the centre 

5 Corner to the lions as Vagiannidis’ cross is cut out with a sliding tackle by Roni 25 yards out. Looks like they've over watered this pitch. Better not let them near your house plants 

5 Gonçalves takes the corner and Sporting have their first chance of the game as Debast brings a save from 8 yards out for a second corner 

7 Mangas fouled on the far edge of the right hand side and the lions have a free kick on a dangerous position. AVS clear as far as Quenda who blasts over from 22 yards 

8 Foul on Quenda as Rivas goes through the back of him

8 Mangas open wide left can only find a defender as he tries to cut the ball back inside the area 

9 Vagiannidis gets it all wrong and shanks a shot wide from 14 yards when wide open 

11 Mendonça rightly shown a yellow for a poor late challenge on Vagiannidis inside the Sporting half 

12 A chipped ball to Gonçalves by Morita brings a save from point blank range at the near post. AVS clear for a corner as the rebound first missed by Nel and almost fell to Trincão 

13 Awful corner from Sporting ends up with the ball inside their own half with a series of passes that went further back with each one 

16 Corner far side. Mangas cross found Pote who couldn't control the ball and the defender behind stabbed it out of play 

19 Corner far side to the lions. This time it at least goes into the box but is easily headed clear 

19 Kochorashvili’s turn to over hit a pass looking for Gonçalves and the ball runs out for a goal kick 

20 AVS carry the ball forward with a 3 on 4 situation but soon lose the ball as 4 becomes more like 7 and Sporting have too many players back for them to make anything of the move 

22 Free kick 30 yards out wide right is sent towards the far post but headed clear. The lions really need to work on all their set pieces. I wrote it every season and they never seem to do it 

23 Vagiannidis with the first touch of a trampoline inside the AVS area and the defender uses his weight to shepherd the Greek and let the ball run out of play

25 Miss hit cross on the right goes into the six yard box and straight into the arms of Rui Silva 

26 Diomande in a one on one at the back wins the ball comfortably 

28 Atrocious from Quenda who tries to beat Rivas inside the box and falls over his own feet and injures a defender in the process with a hand into the eye as he fell 

29 Gonçalves is sat behind Borges on the touchline having his ankle strapped up which isn't a great sign

30 Deep cross from the left wing headed clear for a throw in far side which Sporting again clear and in seconds they have gone all the way up to the opposition box. Vagiannidis tries to be too clever with a weighted pass and Ramos collects. Brilliant to transition that quickly but so poor in the final third 

33 Nel goes down looking for a foul five yards outside the area but the referee uninterested 

33 Interesting that AVS defending in a line of just 4 and happy to sit as high as the 24 yard line versus other sides who defend in way more numbers and much deeper 

34 Ambitious effort from way outside the area by Lima had Silva backtracking but goes over the bar 

35 Free kick far right to Sporting. Debast went to the far edge of the six yard box. Cleared as far as Trincão who went with the left instep from 19 yards and the ball out for a goal kick 

36 Referee I think is indicating a VAR check but whatever it was for he waves play on. Suspicion of handball from Vagiannidis’ original header back across the box 

37 Quenda has swapped flanks the last two minutes. Sporting win a corner far side. 

Headed clear again. 

38 Every player bar Rui Silva in the final 30 yards 

38 AVS counter and Neiva brings a save from Silva from 20 yards. Quenda wanted a foul from Duarte two yards outside the box not given which led to the break 

40 Quenda miss kicks the ball into the face of Duarte who goes down like… well like some idiot has just kicked a ball in his face 

41 Diomande looks for a run into the box but found Ramos 

41 Gonçalves is having an argument with one of the opposition players 

42 Debast blocks a shot from 12 yards from Duarte

42 Diomande tries the same ball over the top and fails again this time finding the head of a defender

43 Nel goes down in the box appealing for a penalty not given in real time 

44 Corner far side. Nel has the back of his boot stood on by Devenish. VAR check ongoing. Seen them given 

45 Referee is going to the monitor. Slow motion replay shows he definitely catches the youngster 

Plus three was indicated 

+1 We're still watching the VAR

+2 Still watching the VAR 

+2’30 Referee finally says no penalty 

+3 Corner far side ends in a shot from Quenda into the side netting from a tight angle but only after the lions got it all wrong again 

+3 Shake of the head from Borges and a wry smile on the touchline. He can't believe that's not been given 

+4 Free kick to AVS wide left 30 yards out. Quenda heads clear 

+5 Kochorashvili takes a knee to the ribs. Felt that one 

+5 Yellow shown to Tunde. No idea what that was for. Debast took a quarter of the pitch up with his foot with a sliding tackle second before 

Half time 

AVS Futebol SAD 0 Sporting CP 0

The lions have played like a side who left their best players on the bench. Rui Borges not a happy man as he talks to the referee en route back to the dressing rooms and would do well not to get himself sent off. He's livid with the decision not to award a penalty and I don't think I can ever remember seeing the man lose his cool. Incredibly the sprinklers are on again as if there's not enough water on the pitch already. The only real talking point is the non penalty award. One assumes the referee has looked at the flight of the ball and decided that Devenish cleared before he catches the back of Nel's boot. Gonçalves had the half chance at the front post but in truth the lions have been crap especially in the final third. Quenda can fuck off to Chelsea now with everyone's blessing if he likes. His contribution not much more than falling over his own feet and kicking the ball in the face of Duarte. Borges at least has probably the best bench he's had all season and will no doubt have to ring the changes in the second half as he chases all three points.

Second Half 

We've been treated to the Macarena at half time. I say treated. The camera focuses on on Rui Borges as he makes his way back to the touchline. AVS get us back underway. No changes from either side.

45 Free kick for a foul on Kochorashvili who has his hair band knocked out by the force. There's something you don't write every day 

46 Poor from Sporting again inside the area and AVS clear 

46 GOAL AVS Futebol SAD 0 Sporting CP 1. It wasn't pretty. Vagiannidis low cross from the right turned into his own net by Devenish. VAR check ongoing. The Greek fortunate to see the ball rebound to him to enable him to get free after another poor first touch and in fairness the cross wasn't great. A goal which sums up this game perfectly. *Correction Nel gets the faintest of last touches. Presumably that's why they checked to see if he was offside. He couldn't have been as Devenish got the last touch onto him 

48 Goal stands. 

48 Debast with a beautiful cross field pass to Quenda but AVS clear 

49 THWACK Gonçalves with an audacious 20 yard effort curls onto the bar and straight back to Nel who heads over the bar from 10 yards. We've seen more in 4 minutes than we saw in 45 from Sporting clearly aggrieved at the non penalty award and reminded they're playing the bottom side. I say 45, 51 minutes. 

53 Two neat crisp passes from AVS, the third out for a throw. You feel for their fans this season 

53 Vagiannidis overcooks his pass again. 

54 Mendonça goes through the back on Gonçalves and free kick finally awarded after the referee tried to play advantage 

55 Five man wall with draft excluder. Does its job as Kochorashvili hits the last man from 20 yards 

55 ➡️ ⬅️ Quenda and Nel replaced by Suárez and Geny. I think Nel might have got the last touch on that goal. Yes its just flashed up with him credited. Typically I swapped him out anytime scorer with Gonçalves. Come on Pote 

58 Sporting have a man down. Trincão it is who took a kick and it's unlike him to go down. We've a break in play 

59 Quenda looks on deep in thought from the bench. He was truly awful again tonight 

60 Trincão makes his way down the touchline and we're back underway 

60 AVS have a man down in the box but the ball is in the final third of their half 

61 Morita stings the hands of Ramos from 25 yards 

61 Kochorashvili brings another diving save 

61 Referee runs the full distance of the pitch. Lima took a finger into the eye from Morita when jumping to challenge for the ball in the first play 

62 Referee has made the VAR symbol and is going to check. Lima won the original header 

63 Referee took far quicker to check that one 

64 Fuck me he's given it. Penalty AVS. Roll of the eyes from Gonçalves 

65 Borges hands wide with no idea why it was given 

65 GOAL AVS 1 Sporting CP 1. Lima scores as the ball goes to the left and Silva to the right. He points to his cheek in celebration so presumably that's why it was given. That's frankly fucking pathetic. He wins the header and the ball has passed before Morita made accidental contact 

68 Geny finds Gonçalves inside the box but his neat turn results in his pass to a defender 

69 Slide rule pass from Debast finds Mangas free on the left 

69 Gonçalves fouled wide of the area on the left. Free kick level with the 18 yard box 3 yards out 

70 Claims of handball. Header into the keepers arms in the meantime from Diomande inside the six yard box

71 AVS are hanging on 

71 Kochorashvili shot blocked from left edge of the area

71 Suárez shot blocked for a corner far side 

72 Duarte armed tucked behind his back and connects above his shirt line in reference to claims of handball on 70. Correct call, not a penalty 

72 ➡️⬅️ Mendonça for Hernandez 

73 ➡️ ⬅️ Mangas for Araújo and Gonçalves for Guilherme 

73 Diomande penalised for a foul. Looks at the referee with arms wide as if to say you're kidding me? 

74 Free kick 36 yards out easily cleared 

74 Duarte with an acrobatic effort from 18 yards saved by Silva but never really troubling the keeper 

75 Debast with a wand for a foot finds Geny inside the box who heads straight at Ramos from 8 yards 

76 Good run from Guilherme but could have used Araújo who was open in support. His low cross cleared on the edge of the six yard box 

77 Sporting cutting through AVS at will on the left. Araújo can only turn his cross into the hands of Ramos from the goal line 

78 Corner far side to Sporting punched clear. Guilherme effort saved from the edge of the box 

79 It is very much a case of when Sporting score not if. I'm not having it that we can't beat this side 

81 Akinsola with time to write his memoirs fires straight at Silva from 18 yards. Deary me 

81 Triple chance for Sporting. Araújo brings a save low to the left from 20 yards. His follow up is blocked from ten yards and Geny hit the woodwork from 8. Home side really hanging on now 

83 ➡️⬅️ Bragança for Kochorashvili 

➡️⬅️ Molina for Lima and Nené for Duarte. Christ he looks like Rui Costa 

85 Offside flag up against Suárez to spare his blushes as he fell over 8 yards out 

86 Four minutes of normal time plus at least five to be added 

86 Some very nervous Sportinguista's watching on. Nails being bitten, beards stroked 

87 It would be ironic if Sporting failed to qualify for the Champions League because of one of the worst ever teams in the top flight 

88 Fuck me Nené tries from the halfway line and it went somewhere around the corner flag far side 

89 Woeful from Bragança who puts the ball straight into the hands of Ramos 

89 Foul on Bragança penalised

Plus eight shown 

+1 Bragança kicks the back of the defenders leg and break in play 

+1 ➡️ ⬅️ Ponck for Tunde 

+2 Suárez shot blocked from 20 yards 

+4 Corner far side to Sporting cleared 

+4 Peira hits the post from a 1 on 1. Fuck me. Suárez ironically was the last man back for Sporting but never going to win a foot race. Peira went from 18 yards and his effort rebounded to Silva in the centre of the box

+5 Morita puts one over from 6 yards from a Suarez pull back 

+6 Yellow to Ramos presumably for time wasting 

+6 Yellow to Bragança for a foul 

+7 One last play for the lions. Guilherme is fouled inside the Sporting half 

+8 Time added on to time added on. Suarez brings a save from five yards. Follow up whistles past the post from Trincão 20 yards out 

+9 We're still going. No we're not. 99’18

Full time 

AVS Futebol SAD 1 Sporting CP 1

The final word 

Well that feels a very Sporting way to see your season totally collapse and the real possibility of now not qualifying for the Champions League. Sporting had enough chances. They hit the woodwork twice. Their final Xg was 3.36. 

I am a firm believer in karma and sooner or later everything evens itself out. Tonight karma caught up with Sporting and there's no real point in moaning about it. It could be two penalty decisions that cost the club millions of euros but that won't change now. What's done is done. Sporting should be good enough to beat an already relegated side who could still finish with the lowest points total in the history of the Portuguese top flight but now they're only one point off. In fairness they probably should have had all three in the end with the shot that hit the post when the lions pushed up looking for the winning goal. It wouldn't have been what they deserved but you can't argue that they didn't deserve something even if the award of their penalty felt frankly ridiculous. How touching someone's cheek prevents a goal scoring opportunity is lost on me. Perhaps the referee was a boyhood fan of Porto or Benfica? The challenge on Nel was a clear foul and took two and a half minutes to review only to not give it. He didn't waste much time giving the other penalty it's fair to say. I'm moaning aren't I. Moving on. The lions had their chances. The Gonçalves shot onto the bar, Geny hit the post, Morita knocks over from six yards, Suárez fires at Ramos from five yards, erm Geny's header from 8 yards. The fact their Xg was above 3 tells you they should have taken all 3 points but football is about putting the ball into the net and for all their bluster they only managed it once. The anti Borges brigade will be charging down the hills as I write. I'm so bored of them. Could he have played a full strength side? Of course. But they've given it all in recent weeks against Arsenal, Benfica and Porto. Football is a squad game and you're playing a relegated side. Don't try pin that solely on Borges tonight because if you do you're not better than those who played who need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. The problem this season has been recruitment. Poor recruitment. Mangas was awful again on the left, Vagiannidis was awful on the right and Kochorashvili didn't feel like he pulled up any trees in the centre of the pitch. Three players all given a chance to impress and not one of them really took it. Yes the Greek gets the assist but only because the ball cannoned off a defender after his poor first touch to allow him to benefit and get the cross in, in the first place. The only people more culpable for blame this season have to be the clubs medical department though I'd genuinely be surprised to learn if we actually have one. For the second straight season we've lost key personnel at key points in the season. It's not good enough and neither is the recruitment. I get this desire to buy young and develop talent but at some point just buy some proven quality. 

Quenda wasn't any good before his injury and post return he's been even worse which really is saying something. If you cannot turn it on against one of the worst defences in top flight history then when are you ever going to turn it on? The worst thing that happened to him was scoring in the Supertaça against Porto because it fast forwarded him to a level way past his development and he should still be learning his trade with the B team which is his level. What Chelsea do with him is anyone's guess but I'm guessing the answer won't be to play him. He can't beat a defender, he can't pass, he can't shoot. 

As soon as Guilherme and Araújo came on you saw the difference in quality down the left hand side and the Brazilian was lively and created more in his cameo than Quenda did during the entire game. Like Alisson before him though he's going to have to put in the hard work to prove he's worthy of a place in this team. Is he? Time will tell but I'm not banking on him proving to be a better player than Alisson turns out to be long term. Oh how we miss Reis on a night like this too. He could have come in as left back or as a central defender. Again we return back to the club's transfer policy. 

Gonçalves clearly isn't fit and we saw him having to be taped up mid way through the first half. Trincão looked out on his feet and the knock he got in the second half didn't help his cause either. Still he's been over used and you imagine he gets to sit the Tondela game out. Suárez seems to be sleep walking out the door. I find the rumours of Liverpool, Newcastle and Barcelona being in for him comical but if true I'd bite their hands off for any bid. He's now winding down for the World Cup you can see it in his movement and attitude. Pavlidis started Saturday for Benfica but you imagine they know Sporting have to pay an extra half a million if Suárez finishes top scorer and are trolling the lions. Top shit housery on their part. I'd laugh if it wasn't so depressing. Whoever signed his contract should go. We've massively overspent on him and I mean massively. But if the basic fee was bad enough it's the add ons that make zero sense. If they can get their investment back then they really need to do it as soon as possible and get him gone in the summer. 

Nel might have gotten the goal with the faintest of last touches but he's added very little else but given how Suárez has played the last month he did deserve to start and he'll only get better with game time under his belt. 

Poor old Morita, he must feel like the world's against him. First the penalty in the Dérbi and then this one and neither are really his fault. Still as I started this with, everything comes back around eventually. So can we now chalk off two decisions off against Santa Clara we shouldn't have been given and call it quits?

They won't make the same mistakes on Wednesday night against Tondela I'm convinced of that much. 

Bragança was poor. I've said that for years mind you. Geny looked dangerous coming on. He's been the stand out star of April. Talk is they won't now let him leave which is about the only good thing to have come from this month other than ensuring we progressed to the Taça final in May. 

So let's go with four for man of the match. Diomande looked solid throughout albeit with a couple of dodgy long passes but I'm not expecting the lad to be Debast. Class above AVS, class above this league. He'll be a big miss when he goes. Someone surely has to throw the money he's worth at us. I hope they don't. I'd never let him leave. Zeno Debast was a class act all night. Feet like wands, spraying balls around for fun. That's votes one and two. I'll go Geny three even though he was only on for the best part of 45 minutes including the time added on. But his equivalent of a half was better than some over the course of the entire 90. Am I being unfair on Kochorashvili? Possibly. Did he do much wrong? I'm not sure he did. Free kick wasn't up to much but he doesn't tend to miss a pass. I don't want to put Silva into a final four. He's not going to win it anyway so sure why not. My man of the match was Debast. If everyone was fit at the back he'd be one of my starting two midfielders. I'm going to keep going with him and Quaresma in midfield for next season. Why not, both can do the defensive side of the game, Quaresma can drive forward with the ball at his feet, Debast has the full passing range. Christ it's a quarter to midnight. I'll shut up. 

In summary though, we can't have a league where the small teams are continually unfairly punished in favour of the big boys. It's a kick in the teeth but on count back one we were owed. Do not repeat it against Tondela though gentlemen I might not be so kind come Wednesday night.

As an extra thought Benfica go away to Famalicão. Their last two results there 2-0 Famalicão, the first won us the title. There's another twist in the tail somewhere.