Cacau and Tuco on target in Continental Cup first-leg

Sporting’s roller hockey side once again brushed off the impossible this weekend, this time with a win over the European champions, Barcelona, in the first-leg of the Continental Cup.

The game got off to a lukewarm start, but the same could not be said for the packed stands roaring on the team from Alvalade. Essentially, both sides showed more fear of conceding than willingness to get forward in the opening exchanges, made even more complicated by a surface which was clinging on to the humidity.

Luís Viana hit the post in the 11th minute to give an injection of rhythm to the action, but both defences stood firm when called upon. The deadlock was fair at the break, despite Sporting’s slight advantage late on.

The second-half got off to much of the same, before Cacau struck 11 minutes in with a touch following a shot by Ricardo Figueira that nearly lifted the roof off the arena!

Trailing, Barcelona reacted as expected, pushing high up the court. However, the Spanish giants continued to struggle against an absolute rock of a Sporting defence. Pablo Álvarez and Panadero did test Girão in the Sporting goal, but he was in his usual world beating form and looked unlikely to be beaten. The team from Alvalade battled through the attacking storm and Tuco eventually gave his side breathing room with a strike in the 47th minute after a brilliant break away down the left to secure the win.

Sporting now will travel to Barcelona for the return leg on the 17th of this month.