Sporting CP score twice in two minutes to secure 10th straight win against Arouca

Sporting CP tallied a 10th straight win against Arouca this weekend, courtesy of goals from Alan Ruiz and Bruno César.

Jorge Jesus set his side out with its usual tactical shape, making just one change to the starting line-up with the introduction of Bruno César for Matheus Pereira. The encounter got off to a well disputed start, but with Sporting CP looking to take the initiative with Bryan Ruiz adding creativity to midfield along side William Carvalho. The first chance of the afternoon fell to Gelson after the skillful winger was picked out by Coates, but he was pushed off the ball in the 18-yard box for what could well have been given as a penalty.

Arouca responded in the ninth minute and actually struck from what was their first opportunity. Some determined play down the left finished with a cross from Vítor that Mateus headed into an empty net.

Unshaken by the goal, Sporting CP pushed forward and began building opportunities. First it was Bas Dost in the 27th minute with a header straight at Bolat, before Gelson fired a rocket of a shot that the Arouca keeper did well to turn away for a corner. On 32 minutes Bryan Ruiz picked out Bas Dost with a wire-guided pass, but once again Bolat was on hand to keep his team head.

Jesus' side continued to turn the screw and finally equalised in the 34th minute, when Alan Ruiz did well to control and drift into the box, before blasting a low shot into the bottom corner. Sporting CP could smell blood and just two minutes later the comeback was completed, when Bruno César blasted in from the edge of the box.

Arouca looked better after the break, relying mostly on the hard graft of Walter González in his efforts to get the better of Coates and Rúben Semedo. It was through the Paraguayan that Arouca came close to equalising, as he broke away at the half-way line and pulled a stop out of Rui Patrício on the hour-mark. Down the other end Sporting CP continued to look for space, but the final pass was lacking and some good build up play was left wanting on several occasions.

As the clock ticked down both coaches made their respective changes, with Jorge Leitão introducing the pace of Kuca and flare of Nuno Valente, while Jorge Jesus turned to João Palhinha to hold down the midfield.

With the exception of the break from González 15 minutes after the restart the second-half largely lacked clear chances. Gelson could have killed off the result late on, but Bolat was quick off his line to limit the damage to two.