A Harder brace earns a 1-2 win over Portimonense SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Portimonense SC 1-2 in a Friday night fixture, advancing to the Fourth Round of the Taça de Portugal. Two goals from Conrad Harder decided the game in the away team's favour.

A series of changes were made to the starting XI, with the packed fixture list in mind. Bruno Ramos was a standout in the defensive line, as the 19-year-old defender debuted in the first team.

Sporting CP's full lineup was Vladan Kovačević, Bruno Ramos, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Morten Hjulmand, Daniel Bragança, Nuno Santos, Geovany Quenda, Conrad Harder and Francisco Trincão.

This was only the second time the two sides had squared off in the competition, the first a 6-1 Sporting CP win way back in 1947/48.

Sporting CP also debuted their Stromp kit for the season, and started the match focused on goals. Harder took just three minutes to force Vinícius to make his first save of the night.

However, they found it difficult to reach Portimonense SC's box in more dangerous fashion, as the home team played with a very low block. A few opportunities came their way through free kicks, and just before the half hour a cross from Quenda, which drew Vinícius to his near post, was not quite met by Harder.

Soon after, Hjulmand was also close to scoring, heading towards goal at the near stick off a corner, but the Portimonense SC goalkeeper was alert to the threat. He also saved from Harder in another chance, and Bragança shot over from the rebound.

The pressure finally paid off when Harder opened the scoring. After receiving the ball from Nuno Santos, the Dane escaped from a defender, entered the area and shot across to make it 0-1.

Trincão's shot wide could have doubled the lead before the break, but Sporting CP went into the interval with a slim advantage.

It was Trincão who began the onslaught in the second half, with two chances that went wide and were saved, respectively.

Coach Rúben Amorim made a double substitution, with Viktor Gyökeres and Geny Catamo replacing Geovany Quenda and Ricardo Esgaio. He would then modify things again in the 82nd minute, after his side had experienced little joy off crosses into the box, taking off debutant Bruno Ramos and bringing in Iván Fresneda.

Portimonense SC ended up surprising Sporting CP, following a set piece, and made it 1-1 with three minutes remaining.

Sporting CP needed to react effectively, and Trincão had a free kick kept out immediately after the home side's goal.

In the end, it would be Harder who decided the contest. Bragança passed to Gyökeres and he served up the assist, as the striker got his second goal of the night.

After this 1-2 win, Sporting CP will next play on Tuesday at the Wörthersee Stadion, in Klagenfurt, Austria, against SK Sturm Graz in the third game of the UEFA Champions League group stage.