Taça de Portugal campaign starts with a win

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat CD Olivais e Moscavide 1-3 in the third round of the Taça de Portugal, advancing in the competition. Marcus Edwards, Geny Catamo and Daniel Bragança scored the goals.

At the Estádio José Gomes, in Amadora, with Sportinguistas in the clear majority the rain tempered the clash between the team and the side that compete in the AF Lisboa District Championship.

With nine changes in the first XI from the last game before the international break (only Marcus Edwards and Pedro Gonçalves remained), the biggest highlight of the starting lineup was the inclusion of Jeremiah St. Juste, who had recovered from injury and added his first minutes of the season. Those who also made their debut for Sporting CP in 2023/2024 were Franco Israel, in goal, and Dário Essugo, in midfield. Francisco Trincão, another player recovering from injury, was also back.

Sporting CP came out stronger and could have opened the scoring after just three minutes, when Paulinho set up Marcus Edwards, but the latter couldn't take advantage when in a good position.

CD Olivais e Moscavide managed, shortly after, to win a penalty kick and make it 1-0 thanks to Fabrício Simões' conversion, scoring a historic goal for his club.

From then on, it was all Sporting CP and the team got closer and closer to an equaliser. In the 13th minute, Francisco Trincão's curled shot hit the post and then Rúben Gonçalves saved Paulinho's header. The bar once again prevented a goal, this time from Pedro Gonçalves, after a beautiful collective move and an arching shot.

After further attempts by Francisco Trincão and Paulinho, a penalty kick was appealed for in the CD Olivais e Moscavide area due to handball, but, on this occasion, referee Hélder Carvalho allowed play to continue.

Sporting CP continued to persist through Pedro Gonçalves, whose header required a good save from Rúben Gonçalves for a corner. They finally scored just before half-time: Marcus Edwards was fouled in the area and the Englishman converted the penalty for his second goal of the season.

For the second half, coach Rúben Amorim brought on Geny Catamo in place of Iván Fresneda and Sporting CP continued looking for the second goal to would complete the turnaround against an aggressive CD Olivais e Moscavide.

The change paid off in the 53rd minute. Paulinho worked well, tried to serve up a teammate and, after some defensive rebounds, Edwards headed the ball against the post. CD Olivais e Moscavide got a let-off but, from the second ball, Geny Catamo shot first time into the back of the net. The Mozambican international scored his first goal for the first team and put Sporting CP ahead in Reboleira.

Soon after, Pedro Gonçalves made way for Nuno Santos and the opportunities continued. In the 60th minute, Rodrigo Pedro cut in to deny Paulinho off an assist from Daniel Bragança. Then Trincão gave a great pass to Edwards, who, in front of goal, shot wide.

Geny Catamo, Nuno Santos and Daniel Bragança continued to try for a goal, while Morten Hjulmand, Gonçalo Inácio and Ricardo Esgaio came on from the bench to replace Essugo, St. Juste and Edwards, respectively.

After Paulinho's header was saved and Daniel Bragança shot over, Sporting CP made it 1-3 during stoppage time.

On a fatal counterattack, Trincão found Catamo and he, after dodging the goalkeeper, assisted Bragança, who deflected the ball into the back of the net at the far post.

Sporting CP will now travel to Poland to face RKS Raków Częstochowa on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste (Gonçalo Inácio, 82'), Luís Neto [C], Matheus Reis, Iván Fresneda (Geny Catamo, 46'), Dário Essugo (Morten Hjulmand, 74'), Daniel Bragança, Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos, 54'), Marcus Edwards (Ricardo Esgaio, 82'), Francisco Trincão and Paulinho.