Sporting CP win 3-4 on the road in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Casa Pia AC 3-4 on Matchday 27 of the Liga Portugal season, with a hat trick scored by Francisco Trincão.

On a sunny afternoon and with good weather at the Estádio Nacional in Jamor, Rúben Amorim made three changes to the starting lineup from the 0-0 draw with Gil Vicente FC: Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio and Hidemasa Morita were replaced by Ousmane Diomande, Nuno Santos and Trincão. On the bench, Héctor Bellerín returned from injury.

The many Sportinguistas in the stands didn't have to wait long for the first goal, which arrived after just 17 seconds. Pedro Gonçalves won possession in midfield, combined with Ricardo Esgaio and Manuel Ugarte and Trincão provided the finish for one of the earliest goals of the season.

The response from Casa Pia AC, however, was also quick. On 8 minutes, Rafael Martins levelled to make it 1-1.

After an attempt by Soma that was saved by Antonio Adán, Sporting CP settled things down and moved the ball around the midfield, only lacking chances in the final third which arrived as the match approached the break.

A shot by Youssef Chermiti in the 34th minute and a header by Matheus Reis -saved by Lucas Paes- were examples of the opportunities created by the team.

Their persistence resulted in Sporting CP going 1-2 up in the 39th minute: Marcus Edwards played to Esgaio and he in turn set up Trincão for his second goal of the match and his tenth of the season.

In first half stoppage time, Casa Pia AC responded again, from a scramble that saw a save by Antonio Adán, Nuno Santos cutting across, a deflection off Soma and the ball entering the net.

For the second half, Amorim made three substitutions, bringing on Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio and Hidemasa Morita in the places of Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis and Youssef Chermiti.

As in the first half, the start to the second half was the best possible scenario for Sporting CP, who were back in front in the 48th minute. Off an excellent collective attack, Trincão backheeled to Morita, who sent Pedro Gonçalves through to score.

The story repeated itself in terms of Casa Pia AC's reaction, as with a good shot Felippe made it 3-3.

Felippe, however, was sent off soon after for a second yellow card, and the pressure from Sporting CP increased. Goalkeeper Lucas Paes staved off shots from Gonçalves, Trincão and Edwards, but five minutes from the end, a perfect cross from Gonçalves with his left foot, found Trincão in the heart of the area for his hattrick.

After the 3-4 win, Os Leões will now visit Juventus in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg in midweek.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ousmane Diomande (Jeremiah St. Juste, 45'), Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis (Gonçalo Inácio, 45'), Ricardo Esgaio (Arthur Gomes, 68'), Manuel Ugarte, Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos (Rochinha, 85'), Marcus Edwards, Francisco Trincão and Youssef Chermiti (Hidemaa Morita, 45').