Inter Movistar deny Sporting CP of a first UEFA Futsal Cup

Sporting CP missed out in the UEFA Futsal Cup to last year's runner-up, Inter Movistar, by a harsh result of 7-0 this Sunday afternoon. It was a punishing scoreline, that barely reflected Sporting CP's performance on the day and the Alvalade side's campaign.

The first opportunity came right from the off, with Cavinato pulling a save out of Herrero for a corner. A couple of seconds later Merlim drove a powerful shot just wide. Referee Sasa Tomic was also in the spotlight on occasions, with a handful of debatable decisions including a yellow card for Merlim in the third minute for a foul on Ricardinho. It was from once such decision that Inter threatened for the first time, but Fortino scrambled the ball away off the line. A couple of seconds later Sporting CP accumulated their third foul of the first-half.

On six minutes Humberto acrobatically controlled down the right and Marcão did well to charge down the resulting shot, however the Brazilian pivot managed to get a pass across the face of goal for Bastezini to tap in. Two five saves from Marcão to deny Rivillos followed, before Lolo doubled Inter's lead five minutes before the break.

At 2-0 Sporting CP were certainly still in with a chance of getting back into the encounter, however the Inter goalkeeper was in frustratingly brilliant form to keep the Alvalade charges off the scoreboard. The Spaniards quickly netted another two and Nuno Dias hand was forced into introducing Merlim as a forward goalkeeper with just over quarter of an hour still to play. The risks were obvious, but it was a necessary gamble that harshly backfired with three goals from Inter from range (one from Rivillos and two from Ricardinho).