The coach reflects on a 1-3 win away at Vitória SC

After the final whistle in Guimarães, where Sporting CP beat Vitória SC 1-3 in Liga Portugal action, coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match in his post-match press conference.

"We started the game well, with a lot of possession, getting to the line to cross and controlling how Vitória SC's brought the ball out. We ended up conceding a goal that they hadn't really deserved, but we got back to being the team we wanted to be. We had opportunities to equalise and we did so with a penalty before halftime, which was very important," he began by telling journalists at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.

"In the second half we didn't begin things so well, but then we had an excellent period in which we pegged Vitória SC back, with good balls between the lines and playing with quality. Pedro Gonçalves coming on helped us in that sense, and we scored the second goal. We could have had more of the ball, and the stoppage didn't help us."

"Marcus Edwards's goal, killed off the game. It was a fair victory," summarised Amorim, who again hailed the impact of Gonçalves."

"We had an idea of what we could change, but the game required things and we tried to get the substitutions right. I felt that Slimani was lacking energy, so we changed the characteristics and Gonçalves is very strong between the lines."

Of the title race, the coach emphasised that "it's important to be in the fight until the end, but only one team will win. It's not easy for FC Porto to drop points, but the team always believe that it's possible, because there are still many points up for grabs. It's a roller coaster of emotions, we have our hopes and last year we were on the other side of the equation. we are looking to see who slips up first. What we have to do is win our games to have hope."

"It's not worth thinking about it too much, we have to get better. Today we were more complete than in Moreira de Cónegos and that makes me happy. It was an important and fair victory."

The team recover from a first half goal to win 1-3 on the road

In their final game before the international break, Sporting Clube de Portugal won 1-3 away to Vitória SC on Matchday 27 of the Liga Portugal season.

Despite going behind, the team left Guimarães with all three points after an extremely demanding game. Pablo Sarabia made it 1-1 just before the break and Paulinho, in the 70th minute, confirmed the turnaround, which would be completed in stoppage time with a great goal from Marcus Edwards.

With an almost full squad available, minus the suspended Zouhair Feddal, coach Rúben Amorim made four changes to his starting XI: Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos, Ricardo Esgaio and Pablo Sarabia began the match, with Luís Neto and Marcus Edwards - facing their former team - returning to the substitutes' bench and Pedro Porro a late withdrawal.

At the always demanding Estádio D. Afonso Henriques – where Vitória SC had only lost one of their last nine games – no easy task was expected for Os Leões. Their opponents were the sixth-placed team in the league bolstered by victories achieved in their two previous rounds.

Before kick-off, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21st), the two teams combined for a joint photo as part of the league's "Racismo Não" campaign, which will run throughout the matchday. In addition, each player appeared on the pitch with two stripes on their face – a symbol of equality.

Comfortable with the ball and taking the initiative, Sporting CP alternated between patient build-ups and long shots to break down the defence. They monopolised possession in the first ten minutes, but it would be Rochinha, from the home team, who enjoyed the opening opportunity, saved by Antonio Adán.

In response, Sebastián Coates headed over off a corner kick, and Sporting CP upped their opportunities: Sarabia had two good chances, shooting straight at Bruno Varela and then running the ball too long.

Vitória SC opened the scoring through Óscar Estupiñan, who broke inside from the edge of the area and sent the ball into the net.

The match picked up pace, with Slimani having an effort saved by the goalkeeper. As the intensity also increased, a tangle between Abdul Mumin and Paulinho saw the home team's coach Pepa sent to the stands before the half-hour.

The siege of Vitória SC's area would be rewarded when Sporting CP won a penalty for handball by Alfa Semedo. Sarabia converted from the spot for his 14th goal of the season, putting his side back on terms.

In the second period, Amorim introduced the returning Pedro Gonçalves in place of Slimani, and the impact was immediate. First, Paulinho – who moved to the centre of the forward line – came close to scoring through a lob of the goalkeeper. Then, on the next move, only a touch of a promising low cross by Matheus Nunes was lacking.

Clearly on top, Sporting CP pushed the home team back into the final third, creating opportunities in a fluid way, but without the effectiveness to take full advantage.

It was not until the 70th minute that the reigning champions took the lead, and Paulinho was the man to provide it. Assisted by Pedro Gonçalves, the forward successfully struck to make it 1-2.

After a delay due to an incident in the stands, the dynamic of the contest changed, due to Vitória SC's need to find an equaliser. They accumulated crosses into Adán's area, which the goalkeeper fended off successfully.

In turn, looking to kill off the match, Amorim introduced Luís Neto, João Palhinha and Marcus Edwards onto the pitch in one fell swoop, accompanied later by Daniel Bragança.

In one of the nine minutes of stoppage time, Edwards put the result beyond all doubt, striking beautifully from outside the box against his former club.

The 1-3 win takes Sporting CP to 67 points. After three consecutive away games, they return to Alvalade to face FC Paços de Ferreira on April 3rd, after the international break.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Ricardo Esgaio, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos (Luís Neto, 85'), Manuel Ugarte (João Palhinha, 85'), Matheus Nunes (Daniel Bragança, 90+6'), Pablo Sarabia (Marcus Edwards, 85'), Paulinho and Islam Slimani (Pedro Gonçalves, 54').