The team suffer a 3-2 loss on the road to Vitória SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal fell to a shock 3-2 defeat on their visit to Vitória SC, on Matchday 13 of the Liga Portugal season.

For an evening game amidst rainy conditions in Guimarães, coach Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting lineup from the match against Gil Vicente FC. Sebastián Coates was missing due to suspension, replaced by Matheus Reis, and Nuno Santos made way for Geny Catamo.

The first half was somewhat lacking in terms of opportunities on goal. Vitória SC's Jota tried his luck after three minutes, but Antonio Adán made an easy save, whilst Pedro Gonçalves caused the first scare for the away team and forced an excellent intervention by Bruno Varela.

Finally, in the 41st minute, Sporting CP broke the scoring with a free kick, as Gonçalves sent the ball into the area and Hidemasa Morita knocked on for Gonçalo Inácio to turn it across the line, with his first goal of 2023/24.

The second goal could have come soon after, when Gonçalves provided a delightful chip that was disallowed for offside from the pass from Marcus Edwards.

Vitória SC ended up equalising in the final moments of the first half, when referee João Pinheiro called a penalty against Adán for a foul on Ricardo Mangas. Tiago Silva converted the equaliser on the stroke of halftime.

Nuno Santos replaced Ricardo Esgaio for the second half. Vitória SC began strongly, creating danger in the 49th minute when Ricardo Mangas shot over.

A wetter playing surface changed the dynamic of the match. Sporting CP responded as Ousmane Diomande set free Geny Catamo down the right, the Mozambican teeing up Viktor Gyökeres -who missed the target. The Swede had another chance to score again in the 61st minute, off a Santos ball, but Tomás Ribeiro cut it out.

Francisco Trincão and Paulinho then came on to replace Marcus Edwards and Morten Hjulmand, and Sporting CP came close to scoring again: Trincão, after combining with Nuno Santos forced a good save from Bruno Varela.

At a time in which they were suffering, Vitória SC completed their turnaround in the 73rd minute. Following an excellent intervention by Adán off a shot by João Mendes, André Silva put in the rebound with a big deflection from Morita.

Sporting CP got back level with a quick attack, ending with Gonçalves assisting Santos to make it 2-2.

The pace was frenetic and this openness to the game permitted Vitória SC to score again, this time through Dani Silva, deep into the closing minutes.

Down 2-3, Sporting CP went after Vitória SC and almost conceded in the 88th minute, but Adán made a great save to deny Adrián Butzke.

In the eighth minute of extra time, a shot from Nuno Santos over the top represented the final chance of the game, and Sporting CP fell to a 3-2 loss.

The team remain leaders of Liga Portugal, and will now host SK Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.
 
Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [C] [GK], Ricardo Esgaio (Nuno Santos, 46'), Ousmane Domande, Gonçalo Inácio, Geny Catamo, Morten Hjulmand (Paulinho, 61'), Hidemasa Morita, Matheus Reis, Marcus Edwards (Francisco Trincão, 61'), Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres.