Sporting crush Estoril Praia 5-1 at Alvalade

Leaders Sporting did not tremble as they defended top spot in the Primeira Liga against in-form Estoril Praia this evening, running out 5-1 winners in front of a buoyant crowd in the Portuguese capital.

Viktor Gyökeres paved the way with two brilliant assists for Marcus Edwards in the first half.

Further goals after the break from Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão put a rampant Sporting five up, before Cassiano scored a late consolation for the visitors. 

Forced changes for both teams

Rúben Amorim gave starts to centre-back Eduardo Quaresma and midfielder Daniel Bragança as Sporting began a month without their usual starters Ousmane Diomande and Hidemasa Morita, who are representing their countries at the African Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup respectively. Estoril were forced to drop midfield lynchpin Mateus Fernandes – on loan from Sporting – and Cassiano dropped to the bench, Koba Koindredi and Alejandro Marqués getting the nod from coach Vasco Seabra.

The hosts were straight onto the attack Gonçalo Inácio heading a pinpoint Edwards cross inches wide in the opening minutes, and soon afterwards Estoril goalkeeper Marcelo Carné made an excellent reflex save from a Pote volley.

Estoril had won 6 of their previous 9 matches, including two victories over Porto, and the confident way they committed players forward and stretched the pitch made for an entertaining and open contest. The visitors won a free kick in a dangerous position in the 20th minute, but Holsgrove’s effort was safely clutched by Adán.

Gyökeres on the rampage

Almost immediately Sporting broke the deadlock. Gyökeres was at the heart of the goal, going on one of his typical rampaging runs down the left flank, beating Rodrigo Gomes and crossing perfectly for Edwards to lash into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

Sporting continued to pour forward, Geny Catamo, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards and Gonçalo Inácio all going close to scoring before Edwards struck just before half time. It was a carbon copy of the first goal with Gyökeres again doing all the spadework, this time down the right flank, and laying on a chance that the Englishman couldn’t miss.

The result was made safe shortly after half time as the hosts extended their lead, again thanks to quick thinking from Gyökeres, whose rapid throw-in released Nuno Santos who raced towards goal and thundered in a shot that ended up in the net thanks to a big deflection off Pedro Álvaro.

Chances galore

To their credit Estoril never stopped trying to play their football, and almost pulled a goal back straight away through Rodrigo Gomes, his cross-shot cleared off the line by Quaresma.

The chances kept coming at both ends, Catamo, Tiago Araújo and Gyökeres close to finding the net in quick succession.

But Sporting who were far more clinical in front of goal, Pote and Francisco Trincão both finding the target with superb shots from range as Sporting went 5-0 up and threatened to make it an embarrassing night for the visitors, Edwards and Trincão both denied by the post.

Deserved consolation

Estoril eventually scored the goal their enterprising play deserved, Cassiano bundling the ball home from close range after Pedro Álvaro’s well-placed bounced out from the underside of the bar.

In a game where defending was largely an afterthought, there was still time for Gyökeres to shoot just wide on the break and for Pote to hit the post.

Analysis: Sporting stand firm; Estoril stick to their principles

We are not yet at the halfway stage of the season, but Sporting look well-positioned to fight all the way for the title this season. On this evidence, the losses of Diomande and Morita for around a month may not have the destabilising effect many have predicted.

The Lions looked incredibly dangerous and spent the whole match in attack-mode. Marcus Edwards was officially named the man-of-the-match but once again it was Viktor Gyökeres who was the driving force behind everything that Sporting did right tonight. Whether or not the Lisbon side can win the league surely depends hugely on the Swede avoiding injury.

As for Estoril, some will call them naïve for adopting such an open style of play in the stadium of the leaders, but Seabra’s courageous style of play has borne plentiful fruit in recent times, and despite the heavy defeat the canarinhos again showed they have dangerous players who can cause damage to any opponent.

Playing this way they will certainly win most of their matches against all but the strongest opposition in Portugal. 

by Tom Kundert, at the José Alvalade stadium

Goals:

[1-0] Marcus Edwards, 21’

[2-0] Marcus Edwards, 45 + 2’

[3-0] Pedro Álvaro (o.g.), 51’

[4-0] Pedro Gonçalves, 69’

[5-0] Francisco Trincão, 78’

[5-1] Cassiano, 82’