Sporting puts five past Skënderbeu for first Europa League win of the season

Sporting claimed a first win in this year’s Europa League campaign on Thursday night, with a 5-1 thrashing of Skënderbeu courtesy of a brace from Matheus Pereira (his first goals in European competition) and goals from Aquilani, Montero and Tobias Figueiredo.

The gulf in class between the two sides was laid bare right from the opening whistle, with Shehi being tested in the visitors’ goal from almost the first kick of the encounter when Montero turned well and put a ball across goal that the Skënderbeu keeper did well to collect. Seconds later, Jonathan Silva tried his luck with his off foot following a corner, but Shehi stood firm.

Some good movement and collective passing had the Albanian visitors struggling and on 14 minutes Mané was picked out by Aquilani at the edge of the box, but the Portuguese international drove his shot straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Montero looked to have done everything right after rounding the keeper, but Vangjeli scrambled back to clear off the line and André Martins failed to capitalise on the rebound.

Jesus’ side continued to press and Carlos Mané could have finally opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a cross from Esgaio, but his header was denied by another save from Shehi. It was never going to be an easy night for the Albanians, but the task was made all the more difficult with the sending off of Salihi on 23 minutes for a second bookable offence for a needless handball.

Despite being a man up, Sporting actually eased up in attack and a long spell of possession ensued, but with few chances on goal. In fact, it wasn’t until the 37th minute that the team from Alvalade finally bagged a deserved opener, when Montero was impeded in the area by Jashanica and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Aquilani to slot away and give his side a more than fair lead. Two minutes later, Montero was again fouled in the area, this time by Vangjeli, and it was the Colombian himself who took the honours this time to make it 2-0.

Half-time did little to take the sting out of the Sporting attack and on 48 minutes the hosts could have went three up, but Shehi pulled off a double stop against Montero and the follow up from Matheus. Snowed under wave after wave of attacking football, Fatigue began to set in for the struggling Skënderbeu and Matheus Pereira obliged with a first European goal of his career with a header in the 64th minute that Shehi was helpless to stop.

Three-nil up, Sporting sensed a heavy scoreline and began to turn the screw in attack. Tobias Figueiredo made it four with a header following a free-kick guided in by Montero, before Jesus introduced Slimani, Gelson Martins and William Carvalho into the action for André Martins, Mané and Aquilani. To round off what was already a memorable night for the young forward, Matheus scored his second brace in a week with a shot across goal to grab Sporting’s 5th.

The Albanians did manage a late consolation goal through Jashanica, fairly applauded by the 20 thousand Sporting fans who had turned out for what was a completely one-sided showing.