Two Paulinho goals earn a 1-2 win

Sporting Clube de Portugal won away in their Friday night fixture, beating Casa Pia AC 1-2 in the game that opened Matchday 2 of the Liga Portugal season. Just like he did against FC Vizela, it was Paulinho who gave the three points to Rúben Amorim's Leões, scoring twice on his 100th appearance for the club.

The game was held at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior, the stadium used by Casa Pia AC for this season, and this Lisbon derby was transferred to a venue in the district of Santarém. Sportinguistas filled most of the approximately seven thousand seats at the ground.

Like Sporting CP, Casa Pia AC came into this match after a win in their opening game, having won 0-3 against SC Farense.

Amorim made four changes in relation to his previous starting XI: Ricardo Esgaio and Nuno Santos – back after injury and making his first appearance this season - came onto the wings in place of Geny Catamo and Matheus Reis, while Marcus Edwards and Paulinho were included at the expense of Daniel Bragança - out due to a rib injury - and Francisco Trincão. Pedro Gonçalves dropped into midfield and Paulinho joined Edwards and Viktor Gyökeres in attack.

The first time Sporting CP ventured into the attack, they immediately opened the scoring: With three minutes on the clock, Esgaio crossed and Paulinho, inside the area, shot first time into the back of the net, giving the team the best possible start.

Later, the League's Arbitration Council would, in a statement, inform that there was “an error in the placement of the point that defines the offside line,” concluding that “the goal should not have been validated” due to Paulinho being offside "by nine centimetres."

Casa Pia AC started to show a reaction, managing to steal some balls high up the pitch but without causing any real danger. At the other end, Paulinho reappeared in the area, but headed way over the top when completing a quick attack.

The game was interrupted for nearly 15 minutes due to a medical emergency in the stands. The supporter was assisted on the spot by firefighters, with the help of the medical teams from both clubs, before leaving the stadium in an ambulance. During the second half, news came in that they were already stable, and transferred to Hospital San Jose.

Even before half an hour had expired, Sporting CP did not slow down and were very close to extending their lead twice. In the first, a shot by Gyökeres ended up hitting the crossbar and, then, from the corner kick that followed, Paulinho was close to scoring the second.

Minutes later, the No.20 tried his luck again, this time from outside the area, but the shot was saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Batista.

It was during the 12 minutes of injury time that Casa Pia AC had their first opportunity, but Antonio Adán shook off Godwin's strong shot and Sporting CP went into the break 0-1 up.

The second half started with Edwards missing in a promising position and, shortly afterwards, a strike well wide.

Goal number two arrived in the 58th minute, but it was for Casa Pia AC rather than the dominant Sporting CP: After he was played through, Clayton's shot beat Adán in the one-on-one.

The 1-1 scoreline would last less than three minutes, as Paulinho received a cross and won the ball in the area, striking on the turn for his third goal in two games.

Gyökeres' attempt to make it 1-3 attempt went slightly wide of the post and the opportunities kept on coming for Sporting CP, even after substitutions such as the additions of Geny Catamo and Matheus Reis and the debuting Hjulmand.

Chasing an equaliser, Casa Pia AC managed to have more ball and grew in the final stretch of the game, but did not provide more than a 'scare' off a corner. Minutes later, Sporting CP responded in kind and Ousmane Diomande also headed wide.

The score remained 1-2 at the final whistle, despite a Geny Catamo threat just before time, and Sporting CP took their points tally to 6. Next up, they play FC Famalicão on August 27th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio (Geny Catamo 64’), Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis 64’), Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves (Mateus Fernandes 88’), Marcus Edwards (Morten Hjulmand 75’), Paulinho (Francisco Trincão 88’) and Viktor Gyökeres.