Portugal to hold training camp in Rio Maior

Sporting CP will provide a massive 8 players for the national under-19 squad's coming training camp, from the 24th to the 26th of October in Rio Maior.

The 8 are: Abdu Conte, Bruno Paz, Gonçalo Vieira, Luis Maximiano, Miguel Luis, Pedro Ferreira, Pedro Marques and Rafael Leão.

Four Sporting youngsters to feature in Euro 2017 friendlies

The battle for a place at Euro 2017 begins in November and coach Hélio Sousa is gearing up with a series of friendlies.

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 

Alvalade leads call-up for Euro squad

The Portuguese Football Federation announced its preliminary under-19 squad list for the coming European Championship Qualification Tournament this week, to be held in Bosnia from the 11th to the 24th of October.

Sporting CP is the most represented club, with six players: Bárbara Marques; Bruna Costa; Constança Silva, Inês Pereira; Neuza Besugo; and Tânia Rodrigues.

The squad will gather at the national team's facility for a training camp from the 12th to the 15th of September.

South African city to host international under-19 tournament

The South African city of Durban will host the DURBAN U19 international football tournament from the 27th to the 7th of August, with teams including Arsenal, Rangers and Sporting in action.

Sporting will initially face Golden Arrows, Arsenal and KZN Academy and could go on to face TP Mazembe, Fluminense, SA U19 or Rangers should the Alvalade youngsters progress to the next round.  

DURBAN U19 fixtures:
 

Golden Arrows x Sporting CP – 27th of July at 16h;

Arsenal x Sporting CP – 30th of July at 16h30;

KZN Academy x Sporting CP – 1st of August at 16h30.

One-a-piece in friendly played in Rio Maior

Sporting B, bolstered by several youngsters from the club's under-19 squad, drew 1-1 with Japan's Olympic Team in a friendly in the Rio Maior Municipal Stadium this week.

With Guilherme Oliveira; Mama Baldé, Domingos Duarte, Tomas Rukas, Rúben Ribeiro; Kikas, Chaby, Francisco Geraldes; Luís Elói, Podence and Ponde given the nod for the opening whistle, Sporting raced out of the blocks and took the lead from the penalty spot through Podence, after the Japanese keeper brought down Ponde.

Japan made the most of a slowing of the pace as the game progressed and Sporting introduced several under-19 faces, drawing level from the penalty spot through Harakawa.

Draw with Russia leaves Portugal needing a win

The national under-19 team were held by Russia this weekend, on matchday two of Euro Elite Round Group 6.

With Alvalade stars Com Pedro Silva and Pedro Empis in Emílio Peixe's starting line-up, Portugal were actually leading 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a goal form Pedro Delgado (41’). However, the Russians managed to split the points with a last minute strike from Obolski.

The result means that Portugal must win on Tuesday if they are to move on in to the European Championship Finals.

Portugal open Euro qualifiers with dominating display

The national under-19 team opened their Euro Elite Round campaign off to a convincing start this week with a 4-0 win against Sweden in Vila do Conde.

With Alvalade stars Pedro Silva and Pedro Empis in the starting line-up, Portugal were already 3-0 up at half-time, courtesy of Alexandre Silva (13’) and Buta (23’ and 24’). Gonçalo Rodrigues finished off the scoresheet in the 64th minute.

The winner of each group will qualify for the Euro finals, to be played in Germany.