SPORTING WIN AT HOME

Sporting 2 Salgueiros 0 Half Time : 0 - 0 Sporting lined up : Schmeichel Cesar Prates Beto Andrй Cruz Rui Jorge Bino Paulo Bento Horvath Sб Pinto Joгo Pinto Acosta Salgueiros, second in the Portuguese First League, is the third team of the city of Oporto, whose more famous FC Porto and Boavista FC figure constantly in UEFA competitions, so this game was another in which Lisbon and Oporto teams played each other. These being the first and second cities in Portugal, there is a healthy North/South rivalry which creates competitive and exciting games. This one was no exception The first half settled into a rhythm of constant attacks by Sporting, led by Sб Pinto, Joгo Pinto, Acosta and Horvath, but which were greater in energy than in penetration. Salgueiros, the visitors, were content to launch counter-attacks but the half-time score was 0-0. Salgueiros came back from the break with a sharper attack and created several problems for Peter Schmeichel, who was lucky not to suffer a goal after 52’. Sporting’s defence once again proved to be porous as the defenders stood rooted to the ground, watching the Salgueiros players swapping the ball around them. 1-0 It was Sporting who scored the first goal, after 60’. Beto Acosta, the Argentinian striker, was the goal-scorer of a well-taken goal after some good work by Sporting’s midfield. Salgueiros, however, continued to work and were unlucky not to equalise after 70’. Schmeichel once again showed his mettle after 79’, making a fantastic save. 2 – 0 With ten minutes remaining, Sporting had done enough. With the midfield reinforced, it was a question of simply managing the result until the final whistle. Sporting did more than that – Acosta scored his second goal on the stroke at 89’. This was a game which Sporting had to win. Lying sixth in the Portuguese First League, and with eternal championship contenders FC Porto already comfortably placed in second, behind revelation team SC Braga, which has yet to prove that it can go the whole distance, Sporting cannot use the Champions League as an excuse for poor results. Substitutions : Bino by Mpenza 52’ Sб Pinto by Dimas 78’ Best player: ACOSTA

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY Correspondent of PRAVDA.Ru Lissabon