Os Leões win 5-1 against Vitória SC

Sporting CP beat Vitória SC 5-1 at the Estádio José Alvalade on Liga Portugal Matchday 22, with goals from Gonçalo Inácio, Daniel Bragança, Maxi Araújo, Luis Suárez and Luís Guilherme. The win allowed them to take advantage of their direct rival SL Benfica's draw in Vila Nova de Famalicão to close the points gap in the standings.

To face the seventh-placed team in the division, on a run of two consecutive victories and a total of four games unbeaten, coach Rui Borges made two changes to the starting XI fielded against CD Tondela: Inácio – after two games out due to injury – returned, Francisco Trincão also came back into the starting lineup, and Georgios Vagiannidis and Geovany Quenda were moved onto the bench.

Once the match began, Vitória SC took control and even had the first shot on target, but Sporting CP’s training ground work paid off to make it 1-0 after just nine minutes: Pedro Gonçalves took a free kick from the edge of the box, chipped the ball towards the far post for Luis Suárez, and he tapped it into the area for the unmarked Gonçalo Inácio to head in.

In the 24th minute, the second goal came with maximum efficiency. Trincão, Suárez, and Hidemasa Morita combined with a series of first-touch passes on the volley, and the Japanese player masterfully set up Daniel Bragança. His finish was also excellent, as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper in a well-executed one-on-one.

Less than ten minutes later, the scoreline could have been increased, as Bragança had a great chance, but he slammed the ball into the goal after skillfully taking two opposition defenders out of the equation. Trincão then tried to chip Charles again and saw the ball go just wide of the post.

At the other end, Rui Silva had to make two saves from venomous shots by Miguel Nogueira from the right flank.

Os Leões responded immediately with a quick transition, although Suárez couldn't finish off the high-speed counter-attack led by Geny Catamo.

The space left at the back by Vitória SC remained vulnerable and Sporting CP took advantage to make it 3-0 in stoppage time. Zeno Debast found Maxi Araújo unmarked in the central channel and the Uruguayan managed to beat the last defender before finishing well. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but with the help of VAR the decision was reversed.

The restart after the interval saw Luís Guilherme replace Morita. Vitória SC had the first clear goalscoring opportunity, wasted by Diogo Sousa when he was one-on-one with Rui Silva.

Moments later, it was the league's top scorer, Luis Suárez, who kept things on track. Picked out by 'Pote', he finished calmly to increase the advantage to 4-0 with his 26th goal in the competition.

The second half saw better control from Sporting CP, with sporadic chances in addition. In the 74th minute, Suárez switched from finisher to assist provider, serving up the fifth goal for the returning Luís Guilherme.

Nuno Santos, Geovany Quenda and Giorgi Kochorashvili, plus Ousmane Diomande, were brought on by Rui Borges for a phase of the match that ended up being largely uneventful.

Suárez was very close to scoring with a header only being denied by Charles’ full stretch save. However, it was Vitória SC who were fortunate to score a consolation goal in the 85th minute -a bizarre own goal by Zeno Debast when trying to pass the ball back to Rui Silva.

Sporting CP continue their pursuit of second place in Liga Portugal and access to the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff. In the next round, the penultimate matchday of the season, they travel to Vila do Conde to face Rio Ave FC.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio [C] (Ousmane Diomande, 82’), Maxi Araújo, Hidemasa Morita (Luís Guilherme, 46’), Daniel Bragança, Pedro Gonçalves (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 78’), Geny Catamo (Nuno Santos, 70’), Francisco Trincão (Geovany Quenda, 78’), Luis Suárez.