Sporting finally stopped on penalties after 1-1 draw

Sporting CP fell short of keeping the CERS Cup in Alvalade this Saturday, after a battling loss to Vilafranca that eventually saw Nuno Lopes' side miss out on penalties.

The encounter got off to a balanced start, with Vilafranca in particular happy to run the clock down when in possession and taking very few risks going forward. It was following a slip by Poka in the 7th minute that the Spaniards made their first major push, but Girão managed to make a stop to keep the scoreboard blank.

Sporting responded with some well organised passing, but the Spaniards did a smart job of mounting a defensive wall around their goal and forced the team from Alvalade to resort to shots from range. Following one of Vilafranca's rare uncontrolled dashes forward, Sporting took the opportunity to really threaten for the first time, but Luís Viana was unable to keep his shot on target.

Looking to take command of proceedings, Nuno Lopes switched Poka and Luís Viana for Tuco and Cacau and the change almost proved just the trick in the 14th minute, but the Brazilian could not capitalise on his opportunity. Sporting finally got a foothold and Vilafranca didn't hold out long on the back foot. Losna was brought down in the area in the 23rd minute by Eduard Fernandéz and Luís Viana stepped up for the penalty to open he scoring.

Vilafranca drew level just seconds after the restart through Roger Rocasalbas and the game really opened up, with both defensive lines now looking to get forward and both sides picking up the pace. Chances naturally followed, with both Poka and Cacau testing Gerard Camps in the Vilafranca goal and Girão making stops in the Sporting goal.

With just a minute of regulation time to play, Vilafranca looked to have snatches the win, but Girão pulled off a phenomenal save to deny Roger Rocasalbas. Cacau broke forward in response, but his pass to Tuco came up just short and the game headed for extra-time.

The additional period began with Marc Navarro forcing Girão into a save and with João Pinto firing just inches high of the Vilafranca goal. Chance after chance followed for both outfits, but neither keeper looked like conceding, as the game headed for penalties.

Luís Viana was the first to step up to the spot, but was denied by the Vilafranca keeper, before Girão did the same from Eduardo Fernandéz. The same happened with Poka and Joan Vasquéz, before both sides struck from their third attempt through Losna and Marc Navarro. Ricardo Figueira's shot was then saved by the Vilafranca keeper, but Girão again pulled off the same trick from Jordi Galan's effort. Last to step up was Tuco and the Spanish keeper again come out on top, before Eduard Fernandéz finally decided it from the last penalty of the evening.