A hard-fought draw against Belenenses SAD underlined the squad's belief

Rúben Amorim had no doubt that Sporting CP “deserved more” from their Wednesday night match against Belenenses SAD, in which they came back from 0-2 down to draw 2-2.

“It is much easier for me to deal with these moments when the players give everything until the end, and that was what happened. We hadn't managed to score goals, but we believed until the end, which was why the draw was a reward for the team's belief”, said the Sporting CP coach in his post-match press conference, reminding journalists that "We had a lot of shots, compared to just two for Belenenses SAD."

“We had several situations in which we could have scored, and we didn't manage to. We allowed them two shots and conceded two goals, so we always had to go after the result. It should be noted that, on a day in which everything went wrong, we still managed to maintain our unbeaten record”, added Amorim, underlining that “Sporting CP were clearly the better side, so we have to look ahead from now.”

Confident and focused only on the next game, he believes his team are ready for both the game against SC Braga and the remainder of the Liga NOS season.

“We knew it was going to be difficult until the end. Now I am only thinking about SC Braga. The season will be tough until the end; there will be teams dropping points and we have to go game-by-game. We are a difficult team to beat. We can lose points in any game, but we can also win anywhere. This is what football is all about, and we have to be prepared for it."

Os Leões dominate, but require a late comeback against Belenense SAD

Sporting Clube de Portugal fought back from two goals down to salvage a draw against Belenenses SAD on Wednesday night, on Matchday 28 of the Liga NOS season. A goal from captain Sebastián Coates and an injury time penalty converted by Jovane Cabral kept Os Leões unbeaten in league action this season, extending their best ever run for a single campaign.

Coach Rúben Amorim made only a single change from Friday's 0-1 win away to SC Farense, replacing Daniel Bragança with Tiago Tomás. Sporting CP lined up with Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro, João Mário, João Palhinha, Nuno Mendes, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves in their starting XI.

The team began the game well, controlling possession, but it was Belenenses SAD who took an early lead in the 13th minute, as Cassierra converted their first and only shot of the first half.

Sporting CP, on the other hand, had several opportunities on goal, through João Palhinha (twice), Tiago Tomás (twice), Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho. The clearest of the chances to level befell João Mário, who stepped up to take a penalty kick that was saved by Belenenses SAD goalkeeper Kritciuk saved.

Having trailed at the halftime break, Os Leões brought on Nuno Santos for Tiago Tomás for the second period to bolster their attacking output.

The script for the second half was similar to that of the first, with complete control by Sporting CP and a goal against the run of play by the visiting side in the early going.

That goal came in the 54th minute, from a backpass to goalkeeper Antonio Adán. The goalkeeper controlled the ball but, under pressure by Cassierra, hesitated to play it clear, allowing the Colombian striker to sneak in and take the score to 0-2.

A major reshuffle was made shortly afterwards, as Pedro Porro, João Palhinha and João Mário made way for Bruno Tabata, Daniel Bragança and Jovane Cabral.

The 0-2 deficit continued into the final ten minutes, until Sporting CP finally found their opening. Nuno Santos sent in a cross, and Coates rose to convert, giving his team a lifeline.

Only half of the task had been completed, and deep into stoppage time Os Leões were facing a first league loss off the season. That was until another long ball found its way into the area, where Cabral headed across. Contact with the arm of Tiago Esgaio led to the referee blowing his whistle and awarding a second penalty of the game, and an opportunity to equalise in the dying moments.

Cabral this time took on responsibility, and beat Kritciuk from the penalty spot to complete the comeback.

Although Sporting CP had the better of the play, and controlled the game, the end result allowed for a point and another display of resilience. Next up is an away trip to play SC Braga on Sunday.

The win over Belenenses SAD was analysed after the final whistle

Following Sporting Clube de Portugal’s 1-2 win at Belenenses SAD, coach Rúben Amorim expressed his satisfaction with a hard-fought three points.

"It was a very difficult game. We knew it was going to be like this. Belenenses SAD adapted better to the pitch, whilst we had some trouble doing that. Belenenses SAD launched the ball upfield and played from there, and that's what we should have done too", he told the media in his post-match press conference.

"The players have been working since we arrived here to go out to play, but we should have done things the other way round. They gave it everything; what was missing was the coach better preparing our play for these conditions. This team is very difficult to beat."

Asked about the team’s chances of winning the title, Amorim spoke in the same way that he has since the beginning of the season.

"We’ve only played 11 games. We still haven't finished the first third of the campaign. It's too early to say anything, and these games remind us of that. Teams always want to show what they can do, and take points against the first placed team in the table. We have to adapt and we are doing so. We may not have always had a great game, but we have been united and ended up winning,” he said.

"If you go into the dressing room, you will not see a euphoric team. You will see a team that realise that each game is a war. We have to grow as a team and these games help us to do that."

The winter transfer window opens soon, and the Sporting CP coach will be hoping to keep the team together. However, he acknowledges that there are “no guarantees.”

"At Sporting CP everything is very well thought out and we have a strategy, but in football -and especially after the pandemic- we cannot guarantee anything. Whoever is at Sporting CP will do the shirt justice and give their all. That is their obligation: To give their all like we did today on a very difficult pitch."

January will also be a tough month on the field, with a packed schedule that the team need to navigate.

"We are prepared for it. I look at the game Gonçalo Inácio and other players had today, and I realise that they need these games. We will have some growing pains, but we will work on these a lot. I believe in these players and I am very satisfied. We need all of them and everyone will play," he assured.

Sporting CP best Belenenses SAD 1-2 away

First half goals from Tiago Tomás and João Mário earned Sporting CP a 1-2 victory against a spirited Belenense SAD side at the Estádio Nacional this Sunday, enabling the team to end 2020 top of the Liga NOS table.

Coach Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting lineup from the match against SC Farense, bringing in Gonçalo Inácio in place of the injured Zouhair Feddal and fielding Bruno Tabata instead of Nuno Santos. 

Tabata was involved in the opening goal, just 5 minutes into the game, as he ran a counterattack and served up a ball from the right for Tiago Tomás, who met it with his left foot for a low drive into the net.

The lead would not last for long, as Belenenses SAD equalised through a Miguel Cardoso shot deflected off Gonçalo Inácio, wrong-footing Antonio Adán in the Sporting CP goal.

Adán would exact revenge of sorts just past the 15 minute mark, as -having been penalised for a foul inside the box- he saved Cardoso's penalty kick to prevent a turnaround from the home side.

The high pace continued and, on 23 minutes, it was Sporting CP's turn to shoot from the spot: Tomás was felled inside the penalty area and referee Rui Costa awarded the penalty. João Mário converted in calm fashion, putting the team back in front with what was his first goal since returning back at the start of the season.

Before the break, Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes tested Kritciuk with shots, Tomás almost capitalised on a goalkeeping error, and Adán made another pair of tremendous saves. However, the score remained 1-2 to Sporting CP at halftime.

The second half saw intensity but limited chances, with high pressing from both teams concentrating the play in the midfield. Belenenses SAD threatened with two shots that were met with saves by Adán.

Inácio came close to a goal in the 61st minute following a corner kick, and Porro enjoyed one of the best individual moves of the game, brilliantly dribbling past an opposition player and shooting hard and wide.

Amorim made a change to introduce Nuno Santos in place of Pedro Gonçalves, but Belenenses SAD continued to try everything in their power to get back level. That task became more difficult when, 13 minutes from time, Tomás Ribeiro was sent off for a second yellow card. 

Antunes and Matheus Nunes replaced Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha, respectively, followed by Andraž Šporar coming on for Tomás to have a ten-minute runout.

Sporting CP would experience a scare when a late goal for Belenenses SAD was ruled out for offside, but would hold on for the latest victory of the 2020/21 season. 

Next up is a game at home to SC Braga on January 2nd.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes (Antunes, 78 '), João Palhinha (Matheus Nunes, 78'), João Mário, Bruno Tabata, Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos, 67 ') and Tiago Tomás (Andraž Šporar, 84').

Sporting CP triumph 3-1 in their second preseason friendly

Sporting Clube de Portugal ended their preseason stay in the Algarve with a 3-1 victory over Belenenses SAD on Sunday night.

Rúben Amorim initially fielded the 11 players who concluded the previous friendly against Portimonense SC on Friday: Adán, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Borja, Ristovski, Daniel Bragança, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Jovane Cabral, Pedro Gonçalves and Tiago Tomás all featured in his starting lineup.

Sporting CP took the lead in the 11th minute with a goal from Pedro Gonçalves - his first unofficial strike for the club. He was set up by Tiago Tomás, who was returning the favour after the assist provided by Gonçalves two days prior.

The early advantage was doubled on 25 minutes, as Tomás scored off a pass by Jovane Cabral.

Sporting CP held their 2-0 lead into the break, where coach Amorim again decided to rotate goalkeepers. Adán was taken off, allowing Luís Maximiano 45 minutes of action.

Further substitutions were made on the 70 minute mark, mirroring the strategy from the previous friendly. All ten outfield players were taken off, replaced by Pedro Porro, Zou Feddal, Coates, Luís Neto, Antunes, Rodrigo Fernandes, Wendel, Nuno Santos, Gonzalo Plata and Andraž Šporar.

The team took the score to 3-0 in the 74th minute, after a long ball upfield from Maximiano. Šporar broke into the area and placed his shot well, taking the score to 3-0.

Although Belenenses would pull a goal back in the 86th minute, Sporting CP were never in difficulty, and made it two wins from two friendlies thus far in preseason. The next fixture for the team is scheduled for September 4th, when they take on Spanish side Real Valladolid in Alverca.