A 4-2 triumph keeps the team on track in the Liga Portugal chase

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated CD Santa Clara 4-2 on Liga Portugal Matchday 28, coming back from behind for another victory.. On this Good Friday, the Lions fell behind, managed to turn the score around, but needed to endure hardship to secure a difficult but undeniable victory.

Following the international break, and dealing with various injuries and the suspension of Luis Suárez, coach Rui Borges made five changes to the starting XI that had won against FC Alverca a fortnight prior. He brought in Ricardo Mangas, Zeno Debast, Giorgios Vagiannidis, Daniel Bragança and birthday boy Rafael Nel for the fixture.

Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos, and Gonçalo Inácio were cheered by the approximately 46,000 Sportinguistas fans present ahead of the game for the marking of their 150th, 200th, and 250th games for the club, respectively.

The game started badly for Sporting CP, and after three minutes CD Santa Clara opened the scoring: At the edge of the area, Lucas Soares produced a cross looking for the head of Fernando, but it was Gustavo Klismahn who found it on the rebound to score.

Sporting CP pushed forward thereafter, albeit with little rhythm to their play, and after ten minutes Pedro Gonçalves had the first chance to equalise, shooting over the crossbar. On 14 minutes, the No.8 was again close to scoring, but the defence deflected the Portuguese international's header out for a corner.

They eventually got the equaliser when, in the 21st minute, Geny Catamo was fouled in the penalty area and Gonçalves -in the absence of Luis Suárez., converted the resulting penalty.

Sporting CP could have taken the lead five minutes later, but goalkeeper Gabriel Batista denied Morita from a clear opportunity. 

Not giving CD Santa Clara any space, Rui Borges' side continued their search for a second goal, which finally arrived in the 39th minute after a magnificent combination between Rafael Nel and Daniel Bragança. Progressing rapidly through the midfield with a series of short passes, the two connected and the striker delivered the ball at the right moment to the midfielder, who appeared in the box and finished first-time to make it 2-1.

Sporting CP didn't have to wait long to celebrate again. In the 42nd minute, Morita attempted a shot from distance, but Gabriel Batista parried it forward. Rafael Nel was the most alert, recovered possession, and returned the ball to the Japanese player as Francisco Trincão also entered the area on the left. The ball went to him: the winger struck the ball and scored.

After the halftime break, Rui Borges replaced Pedro Gonçalves with Maxi Araújo. CD Santa Clara attempted a comeback in the opening minutes, though without troubling Rui Silva, who easily saved shots from Gabriel Silva and Welinton Torrão.

Two minutes later, at the other end, Araújo made a good run down the wing and crossed in, where Rafael Nel was waiting to finish. However, the opposition defence were alert and cleared away.

After that, Trincão found Rafael Nel in a good position, although the young striker couldn't connect well. Seconds later, another substitution was made: Daniel Bragança came off and João Simões was brought in.

In the 67th minute, Borges introduced Morten Hjulmand and Souleymane Faye.

With the minutes ticking down, CD Santa Clara appeared to have scored again in the 82nd minute, although the goal was disallowed for a foul at the start of the move.

CD Santa Clara did pull a goal back in the 89th minute, making things a little more tense.

In the dying moments, Rafael Nel sealed the win with a well-deserved birthday goal, set up by Eduardo Quaresma to run forward and shoot low, making it 4-2.
Sporting CP secured three more points in Liga Portugal, and now host Arsenal FC on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Hidemasa Morita (Morten Hjulmand, 67’), Zeno Debast, Pedro Gonçalves (Maxi Araújo, 46’), Geny Catamo (Flávio Gonçalves, 88’), Georgios Vagiannidis, Francisco Trincão, Daniel Bragança [C] (João Simões, 60’), Eduardo Quaresma, Rafael Nel and Ricardo Mangas (Souleymane Faye, 67’).