​The team triumph 3-0 at home, with the Liga Portugal title soon to be decided

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Portimonense SC 3-0 in Liga Portugal action, as their persistence paid off and their complete domination in the second half was reflected in the scoreline. The team now move closer to a possible league title, with just two games remaining.

Missing Jeremiah St. Juste, due to injury, and Marcus Edwards, through suspension, coach Rúben Amorim made three changes to the starting XI fielded away against FC Porto. Back in were Viktor Gyökeres, Nuno Santos and Ricardo Esgaio, whilst Matheus Reis returned to the squad after injury.

Before the game, the players were welcomed onto the pitch with a choreography in honour of legendary club captain Manuel Fernandes, who is currently hospitalised. In the 9th minute of the match, he received another huge ovation from the sold out capacity crowd.

Sporting CP started at full force, establishing their presence early on in opposition half, and it did not take long to threaten an opening goal. The first big opportunity came from Ricardo Esgaio, who went across and set up Gyökeres, but the forward was denied by the goalkeeper.

After that, there was the second warning, by Paulinho, who headed wide, but the third time was a charm. With 13 minutes gone, Nuno Santos received the ball behind the defence, crossed into the heart of the area and Paulinho provided a first time finish to score.

Sporting CP did not give relegation strugglers Portimonense SC a chance to settle, and they rarely had the ball except for some frustrated counterattack attempts. At the other end, Sebastián Coates, Pedro Gonçalves and Gyökeres all had opportunities.

From the middle of the first half onwards, the pace dropped and the visitors started to have more of the ball. However, it was a short-lived spell, as once again it was Sporting CP who created a lot of danger, this time with Paulinho heading onto the post from a corner on the left side.

Paulinho forced Nakamura into a save before the break, and soon afterwards the goalkeeper upped the ante even further, denying Gonçalo Inácio off a header that seemed destined for goal.

In the second half, Sporting CP again pushed up very high and were patient in looking for spaces, against a Portimonense side with six at the back. The first big opportunity came on the hour, with Nakamura once again stopping Paulinho's attack.

The second goal ended up arriving, more than deservedly, in the 70th minute, from Francisco Trincão. After excellent work on the left side, Paulinho crossed towards the penalty spot and the winger appeared to turn the ball into the net.

Sporting CP continued to go on the attack and, whilst Trincão and Gyökeres had two excellent chances beforehand, it was the latter who made it 3-0 in stoppage time, thanks to a pass from Daniel Bragança that he turned home.

The 3-0 result means that Sporting CP could be crowned champions on Sunday if SL Benfica fail to win away to FC Famalicão. In the penultimate match of the campaign, scheduled for next Saturday, Sporting CP visit GD Estoril Praia.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Ousmane Diomande (Eduardo Quaresma, 80'), Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio (Geny Catamo, 67'), Morten Hjulmand (Hidemasa Morita, 80'), Pedro Gonçalves (Daniel Bragança, 67'), Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis, 89'), Francisco Trincão, Paulinho and Viktor Gyökeres.