A 5-1 win over GD Estoril Praia gets the year underway

Sporting Clube de Portugal kicked off the new year in style by beating GD Estoril Praia 5-1 in Liga Portugal action, continuing to set the pace in the domestic competition.

Coach Rúben Amorim fielded a starting XI of Antonio Adán, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards, Viktor Gyökeres and Pedro Gonçalves, as they took on the side ninth in the division.

Sporting GP came out in command, starting to threaten Marcelo Carné's goal early. Inácio, just two minutes in, headed wide after a cross from the right, whilst Nuno Santos and Marcus Edwards made things difficult for the opposition fullbacks. It was on the right that they managed to create the greatest danger, largely thanks to Viktor Gyökeres, who was beating his markers for pace and managing to reach the area to pull the ball across.

In the ninth minute, Carné anticipated the cross that was headed straight for Gonçalves, denying him again when Nuno Santos' shot came into the attacker's path.

At the other end, Adán was having a calmer time, only being forced into action in the 20th minute to easily gather Jordan Holsgrove's free kick.

Gyökeres then got ahead of Rodrigo Gomes and crossed from the left, with Edwards only having to get a touch to open the scoring in the 21st minute.

Looking to make it 2-0 immediately, Sporting CP continued to have chances: First with Geny Catamo shooting over, then Edwards striking wide, followed by Santos being denied by the goalkeeper and also dragging the ball off target.

The second goal came late in the first half, in almost a carbon copy of the first. This time Gyökeres accelerated down the right, crossed into the area and Edwards was again there to convert.

Sporting CP went into the break winning comfortably, but in the second half they didn't take their foot off the gas. They quickly took the score to 3-0 with a solo move by Nuno Santos, who deflected the ball off Tiago Araújo and in with his shot.

At that point, Amorim brought on Francisco Trincão to replace Daniel Bragança, which pushed Gonçalves back. The versatile Portuguese international would still advance upfield, however, and in the 69th minute he  recovered the ball and ran into the central area, striking to make it 4-0.

Luís Neto, Ricardo Esgaio and Dário Essugo took the places of Eduardo Quaresma, Nuno Santos and Morten Hjulmand, at a time when GD Estoril Praia were more daring in their approach.

In the 75th minute, Edwards hit the woodwork and, on the rebound, Trincão shot wide.But he would not have to wait long to score. After receiving from Viktor Gyökeres, he accelerated into the area and, from a tight angle, smashed the ball into the net.

GD Estoril Praia got a consolation goal following a corner, with the ball hitting the upright and Cassiano scoring on the rebound.

Gonçalves struck the frame of the goal and Gyökeres also tried to score to add to the rout, but the game ended 5-1.

The team next play on Tuesday, at 6:45pm, at home to CD Tondela in the Round of 16 of the Taça de Portugal.