Bas Dost nets hattrick in 4-0 demolition of Boavista

Bas Dost continued in unstoppable form this weekend, this time scoring three to keep the pressure up in the race for the European Golden Boot after Lionel Messi failed to find the back of the net. With another three added to his personal tally (now up to 30), the Dutchman has scored a total of 49% of Sporting CP's goals so far this season and now has as many goals as his previous two seasons with Wolfsburg.

The last time Sporting CP put four past Boavista was back in 2004/05 and Jorge Jesus' side are now eight games unbeaten (drawing on just one occasion against V. Guimarães). Down the other end, Rui Patrício had reason to complain, with the Alvalade custodian not being troubled on a single occasion throughout the ninety minutes.

Bruno César polishes the Golden Boot

It was a comfortable victory in from of a crowd of 42,822. Without Gelson but with Podence quickly making a name for himself, Sporting CP made a blistering start to the encounter. Bruno César tried his luck on two occasions (2' and 11') and was denied by the Boavista keeper, but Alan Ruiz opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Talocha offered possession back to Podence, who released Schelotto down the right for a cross that Ruiz finished on to equal his best season so far in terms of goals.

Eight minutes later Boavista gifted another opportunity, this time with Edu Machado giving up the ball to Bruno César. The Brazilian showed his gratitude with a pin-point pass back across goal for Bas Dost to tap in. It was all looking rather easy for Jesus' side and on 35 minutes Podence himself broke though on goal, but his pass to Alan Ruiz game up just short when the youngster would have been excused for trying for the back of the net himself.

The second-half was much of the same. Three minutes after the restart Bruno César was brought crashing down in the 18-yard box and Bas Dost obliged from the penalty spot for his second of the night. Chasing shadows, Boavista tried to stem the flow, but Bruno César had other ideas and carved up the visiting defence with another pass across goal that Bas Dost made the most of to round off his hattrick.

The evening also saw a long-awaited return to action for Adrien Silva, while William Carvalho celebrated his 150th senior appearance in a green and white shirt.