Alvalade youngsters break down the yellow wall and climb up the Group F table

Sporting CP's under-19 side set the record straight this Wednesday night, after their UEFA Youth League matchday 3 draw against Borussia Dormund. This time Tiago Fernandes's side were able to get the better of the Germans and turn in a memorable 1-0 win.

Sporting CP battled through the Holzwickede cold with some high-pressure football, particularly when Dortmund tried to string together a bit of possession. Daniel Bragança was an absolute machine, battling back possession on numerous occasions and setting his team forward on the break. The opener looked likely, but a goal was proving hard to come by. Bruno Paz could have struck first, but nerves got the better of the youngster as he drove his shot straight at Pulisic.

Rafael was the next to trouble Dortmund with a well timed burst of pace, unbreakable determination and a rocket of a shot that put Sporting CP into the lead (41').

The second-half came with another showing of Sporting CP's superiority. Abdu Conté held down the heart of defence with a clinical display, while Pedro Empis cleaned up down the left and broke forward on several occasions.

Dortmund's most dangerous opportunity came when Brunn Larsen pulled a brilliant stop out of Pedro Silva, before Amenyido wasted the follow-up. Sporting CP's claim to the three points where given a harsh setback two minutes later, when João Ricciulli saw two yellow cards in the space of as many minutes. Tiago Fernandes reacted by bringing off Pedro Marques for Jovane Cabral and switching Pedro Ferreira for Gonçalo Vieira.

Jovane had two chances at the death to extend Sporting CP's lead, but in the end the single strike was enough to claim the spoils.

Tiago Fernandes still optimistic on UEFA Youth League knock-out stage chances

Tiago Fernandes was obviously frustrated with his side's UEFA Youth League draw against Borussia Dortmund this Tuesday night, but the Sporting under-19 coach isn't throwing in the towel in just yet.

Sporting held to third consecutive Youth League draw

A third UEFA Youth League encounter and a third successive draw. Sporting's under-19's came away with a last-minute point from Madrid and were denied by Legia of the win at the death. It was again a case of split points against Borussia Dortmund this Tuesday, although the goals were not left to the last minute.

Abdu Conté was one of Sporting's star performers on the day, with an energetic performance down the left. With the Alvalade side dominating from the off, a goal was inevitable. It was Conté who created the opener with a dashing run through the middle and a pass to Pedro Ferreira, who blasted home a minute before half-time.

Tiago Fernandes's side were also the dominating force after the break and Bubacar Djaló came just inches close of making it two. However, a lack of efficiency in front of goal can always prove costly in the game and football and this encounter was no exception, with Gabriel Kyeremateng making the most of a failure to clear to snatch back possession and split the points.

Sporting CP and Legia Warsaw draw on UEFA Youth League matchday 2

Sporting might have snatched points from the jaws of defeat in Madrid on UEFA Youth League matchday 1, but it was exactly the opposite at the Sporting Academy this week, with the team from Alvalade conceding a last minute goal to Legia Warsaw.

Tiago Fernandes made three changes from matchday 1, introducing Luís Maximiano, Tiago Djaló and André Franco for Pedro Silva, Ricciulli and Miguel Luís.

The Sporting under-19's were actually under the watchful eye of Jorge Jesus, who made the trip to the Academy to see the next generation in action. Despite Sporting dominating the opening half an hour, the first real chance of the afternoon was made to wait until the 19th minute, when Pedro Marques was denied by Majecki one-on-one. The Polish keeper might have got the best of the first round, but he certainly didn’t in the second, when the Sporting forward latched onto a pass from Diogo Bragança to fire in the opener.

The goal actually saw Sporting somewhat lose their way for the rest of the half and Legia began to hold down a bit of possession. Szymanski fired a shot off the bar in the 35th minute, before Djaló brought down Szcepanski in the area that would have drawn the Polish visitors level, had Luís Maximiano not ensured otherwise in the Alvalade goal.

Legia’s pressing eventually paid off, when Ryczkowski’s shot was parried by the Sporting keeper into the path of Kulenovic for the equaliser.

Tiago Fernandes was not happy and began to ring the changes, bringing on Nuno Moreira and Elves Baldé after the break. The move proved to be a stroke of genius and it took Moreira just 17 minutes to put sporting back into the lead, netting with a superb placed effort into the top corner.

The goal lifted Sporting going into the final stages and Fernandes’s side looked to be heading for the win, before Szczepanski blasted in an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area with just seconds left on the clock.

The draw leaves Sporting in third place on two points, behind B. Dortmund and Real Madrid.

Alvalade youngsters open UEFA Youth League with draw

Sporting put in a solid performance in this season's UEFA Youth League opener against Real Madrid this Wednesday afternoon, securing a 1-1 away draw.

Although facing one of Europe's giants, Sporting put in a brave performance and dominated for most of the first-half, courtesy in part to Tiago Fernandes' well chosen strategy of winning the midfield battle. 

Unfortunately Sporting's dominance was not converted into goals, with a sterling performance in defensive and midfield failing to translate in the final third. 

Half-time arrived with the scoreboard blank, with Sporting have tried their luck on goal seven times compared to Real's one.

Sporting didn't look quite as secure after the restart, largely due to Real Madrid's positioning further up the park. Both sides battled away to get a foothold and chances naturally followed. Diaz Velazquez gave the hosts the lead with a 55th minute strike against an isolated Pedro Silva.

In response Tiago Fernandes gambled in the final stages, introducing Rafael Leão and Nuno Moreira in search of an equaliser. Three opportunities went wanting from Daniel Bragança and Elves Baldé, before Pedro Marques finally did justice to the result three minutes into injury time, after Abdu Conté led a break down the left flank.
 

Tiago Fernandes includes 18 for Youth League matchday 1

Sporting's under-19 side will face their Real Madrid counter parts in the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium this Wednesday at 17h00, in the UEFA Youth League.

Coach Tiago Fernandes has travelled with a total of 18 players.

Squad list in full:

1 - Abdu Conté
2 - André Franco
3 - Bruno Paz
4 - Bubacar Djaló
5 - Daniel Bragança
6 - Elves Baldé
7 - Filipe Semedo
8 - Gonçalo Vieira
9 - Jefferson Encada
10 - João Oliveira
11 - João Ricciulli
22 - Miguel Luís 
13 - Nuno Moreira
14 - Pedro Ferreira
15 - Pedro Marques 
16 - Pedro Silva
17 - Rafael Leão
18 - Thierry Correia