Sporting CP put ten past Sarzana in CERS Cup second-leg

Sporting finished off what they had started in Italy with a 10-3 win against Sarzana in the CERS Cup this Saturday, guaranteeing a place in the competition's Final Four.

Captain Ricardo Figueira had warned that his side would not be sitting back on their first-leg advantage and his statement certainly rang true out on the court, with Tiago Losna striking early for the game's opener. A second soon followed, this time courtesy of Luís Viana from the penalty spot. Completely dispelling any doubt about who would be heading for the Final Four, Tiago Losna bagged his second.

The action was completely one way and Luís was next to find the back of the net with two strikes of his own, shortly after Ricardo Figueira had also tried his luck on the Italians' goal. Turning the screw even tighter, João Pinto pulled a stop out of the Sarzana keeper, before Cacau clinically finished to make it 5-0 five minutes before the beak.

Four minutes before half-time, Sarzana responded from the penalty spot through Luca Sterpini, but the visiting captain was adjudged to have taken two touches of the ball and his goal was ruled out. In reply, João Pinto came close to extending Sporting's lead further, but Alessio Peroni managed to make a save. The sixth wouldn't be long coming though, as Poka recovered possession in midfield and worked play forward with Cacau through a move that was finished off by Tuco.

The second-half got off to a blistering start for the hosts and João Pinto and André Centeno were next to try their eye for goal, only to be denied by goalkeeper Alessio Peroni. Shortly afterwards, Tiago Losna was brought down and a penalty and he himself stepped up to convert and make it 7-0.

Not even one minute had passed when Tuco snatched back possession and instigated a counter-attack that André Centeno blasted into the back of the net to put Sporting eight goals ahead. Credit to Sarzana for not rolling over and a few minutes later the Italians pulled a goal back through Matteo Pistelli. Andrea Perroni also managed to find the net a minute later, but with the difference between the two sides still standing at twelve goals, a comeback would be all but impossible.

Finally quelling the Italians' short-lived resistance, Sporting CP again pushed forward and Cacau scored his second to make it 9-2, before Sarzana stubbornly clawed another goal back. The final goal of the encounter was netted by Cacau, before a bit of drama in the last minute saw Raed receive a blue card for a foul on Luís Viana.

As the final whistle sounded, Sporting comfortably moved into the CERS Cup Final Four and are one step closer to retaining their title.