A trio of goals make it six wins from as many games for Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat AVS SAD 3-0 on Liga Portugal Matchday 6, capping an exceptional week with victories both in Europe and domestic competition. In front of a sold-out Estádio José Alvalade, they dominated proceedings and took all three points.

Without Vladan Kovačević, Eduardo Quaresma, Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards through respective injuries, coach Rúben Amorim made four changes to the starting eleven. Matheus Reis, Daniel Bragança and Nuno Santos returned to the starting line-up, with a debut in the first XI for Danish forward Conrad Harder.

Three players from the B team were included in the squad, all of whom were called up for the first time. João Simões, a 17-year-old midfielder, Bruno Ramos, a 19-year-old Brazilian defender on loan from Académico de Viseu FC, and Miguel Alves, an 18-year-old central defender, were on the bench.

The match was preceded by a minute's silence in tribute to the victims of the recent fires in Portugal.

Sporting CP established their presence in the opposition half early on, and began to create the first attacking moves. Francisco Trincão forced goalkeeper Ochoa into a save from the opening chance of note.

After the initial threat, Sporting CP made it 1-0 after 15 minutes, with Harder scoring his first goal for the club with a low shot, capping a great move by the players in the middle of the park.

Shortly after, Viktor Gyökeres almost got a second with a header, but was denied by another outstanding save from Ochoa.

Newly promoted AVS SAD, coming into the game after two wins and one draw in five fixtures, only managed to have the ball in transition, although without causing any problems for Sporting CP.

Daniel Bragança struck close to the post and Trincão was denied again by Ochoa, and as half-time approached, the pace of the game slowed down. AVS SAD then took advantage of the opportunity to have the ball for longer periods for the first time, but they were unable to make it count.

To round off the first half, Sporting CP scored again in the fourth minute of added time, with Gyökeres going through one-on-one with Ochoa and making it 2-0 with a deft touch.

The second half followed almost the same script as the first. Sporting CP took control of the match in search of extending their lead, practically reducing their opponents to defensive duties, although this time they were not as incisive in attack. The first big chance came after the hour mark, with the recently introduced Maxi Araújo heading the ball slightly over the target.

Unsurprisingly, the goal to make it 3-0 eventually arrived. In the 71st minute, Trincão made his way down the right and knocked the ball to Gyökeres, who finished off for his brace.

Soon after, Maxi Araújo almost added his name to the list of scorers, but his low shot ended up hitting the woodwork.

Before the end, Diomande drew another save from Ochoa with a header, as the score remained 3-0 at the final whistle.

Sporting CP have the best attack in the division, with 22 goals scored, and the best defence with just two  conceded). Still with a perfect record, the league leaders next play on Friday, at Amoreira, against GD Estoril Praia.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Zeno Debast, Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis (Ricardo Esgaio, 75’), Geovany Quenda (Geny Catamo, 69’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Daniel Bragança (Hidemasa Morita, 69’), Nuno Santos, Francisco Trincão (Iván Fresneda, 75’), Conrad Harder (Maxi Araújo, 59’) and Viktor Gyökeres.