Sporting CP beat Gil Vicente FC 0-1 to reach Taça de Portugal semifinals

Sporting Clube de Portugal secured a place in the semifinals of the Taça de Portugal after with a 0-1 win over Gil Vicente FC. Zeno Debast's long range shot proved decisive to the team's progressing to the next round, where they will face Rio Ave FC.

At the Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, coach Rui Borges made  three changes to the side he fielded in the 2-2 draw with AVS Futebol SAD: Ricardo Esgaio and Matheus Reis replaced the injured Eduardo Quaresma, while Conrad Harder was chosen at centre forward to the detriment of Viktor Gyökeres, who started on the bench. Geny Catamo was available for the first time since February 2nd.

Gil Vicente FC - led by interim José Pedro Pinto - were coming off a tough series of five consecutive defeats - and three games without scoring - in Liga Portugal. However, they came out boldly in this cup fixture. In the first minute, striker Jorge Aguirre tested the reflexes of an attentive Rui Silva.

Sporting CP quickly responded, with dangerous cross-shots from Debast and, subsequently, Harder.

The home side made it difficult to create opportunities for Sporting CP, who always had more of the ball. Gil Vicente FC had some of their best chaces as soon as half an hour had passed. In the first, as a result of a rebound in the area, Aguirre was left alone, but Rui Silva smothered. Shortly after, Zé Carlos struck over the crossbar, then at the end of the first half Félix Correia wasted an attempt with a poor connection.

The score was 0-0 at half-time, and Rui Borges immediately brought on Gyökeres for the second half.

It could have started in the best possible way, as referee Cláudio Pereira signaled a penalty in favor of Sporting CP for handball, but after a VAR review, he reversed the decision as he considered that Jesús Castillo's arm was in a natural position.

Sporting CP threatened from a corner, with a header by captain Gonçalo Inácio going off target, and showed pressure and a sharpness up front in a way they hadn't managed until then.

Sporting CP finally got their goal in the 68th minute. From the left, Gyökeres set up Debast in the middle and the defender tried his luck with a shot from distance, which deflected off a defender and ended up in the back of the net.

With the score at 0-1, they could have immediately extended the lead, as there was no shortage of opportunities, followed by a sending off for a second booking for Gil Vicente FC's Zé Carlos.

A cross from Trincão found Gyökeres alone at the far post, but Brian Araújo denied him a goal, something he repeated when both the striker and the winger had opportunities. In between, off a direct free kick, Gyökeres shot very close to the angle.

Trincão tried his luck with a well-placed shot from the right that went close to the post.

Rui Borges had then made two substitutions: Geny Catamo returned (for Fresneda) and youngster Kauã Oliveira made his debut for the first team (for Alexandre Brito).

However, the home team began to become more effective, despite being outnumbered. They took advantage of set pieces to try to get back into the game, and almost managed to do so in the 88th minute. Captain Rúben Fernandes seemed to have scored, but it proved to be just a scare when the goal was denied after a lengthy VAR review for offside.

Os Leões progress to the semifinals, joining Rio Ave FC, FC Tirsense and SL Benfica, as they attempt to win the competition for the first time since 2018/19.

The focus now turns to Liga Portugal, as Sporting CP return to action on Monday (8:15 pm) at home to GD Estoril Praia.

The coach says what he expects from the cup game against Gil Vicente FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal play Gil Vicente FC this Thursday, in the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal. Coach Rui Borges gave his thoughts before the game in his pre-match press conference.

“Gil Vicente FC are a side that play very well, especially their attacking play -where they have a lot of mobility, a lot of quality and a good ability to make decisions. Therefore, I consider them a difficult team to face. They really enjoy their football and are not afraid of exposing themselves to mistakes," he analysed.

"They have a new coach, who hasn't changed the defensive or offensive structure much, but, in any case, due to the individual and collective quality they have, Gil Vicente FC will cause us many difficulties -so at no point can we afford to switch off. In addition to being a good team, they will certainly be motivated to reach the semifinals of the Taça de Portugal, which is a competition where, as a rule, smaller clubs gain courage and have greater ambition. All of this together leads us to think that it will be a difficult game, but, of course, we also have the ambition of reaching the semifinals."

Asked about his squad, he said that "We'll see if Geny Catamo can be an option or not."

“Pedro Gonçalves is not yet fit and Viktor Gyokeres is available, but we have to control the minutes he plays and continue to be careful. We would like to have everyone available, but we have to be strong and capable of fighting against all the setbacks we have to go through to the semifinals."

“We all feel the adversities, be they injuries or the amount of games, but, above all, I see the squad focused on the ultimate objective, which is to be two-time league champions. The group are calm, happy, focused and resilient amidst everything that has happened to us, in addition to being very human in terms of the connection between everyone. Despite everything, and despite the fact that at times we have not been as competent, we are still joint top of Liga Portugal, have our objective intact and it's down to us," continued Borges.

Asked about Sporting CP's dip in the second halves of recent games, the coach said that it was due to tiredness.

“We, the coaching staff, have to think about how we can be more intense, but we know that physical freshness leads us to be more alert in our behavior and it is natural that, as time goes by, we are not able to press as much. This makes the performance drop and gives more space to the opponents. I don’t ask them to drop off, and I think this is due to the physical tiredness that leads to mental tiredness as well.”

Borges was also asked about referees, making it clear what he meant after the last game.

“I spoke about VAR because I had already asked for the same criteria 15 days ago. I wasn't talking about the refereeing in that game, because the refereeing was good, I was talking about the moves requiring a VAR decision. I didn't say whether they were right or wrong, I just asked for the same criteria. As for those harmed or benefited, the president has already said, and rightly so, that in the 'league of truth', which you sometimes talk about, Sporting CP should have four or five more points, but I'm not going there and I didn't criticise the refereeing. I just ask for the same criteria for everyone, big or small.”

Spoils are shared in a 2-2 draw with AVS Futebol SAD

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 2-2 on their visit to AVS Futebol SAD, on Matchday 23 of the Liga Portugal season.

Rui Borges made several changes to his starting lineup, with Iván Fresneda, Zeno Debast, Alexandre Brito, Maxi Araújo, Viktor Gyökeres and Francisco Trincão in place of Ricardo Esgaio, Morten Hjulmand, João Simões, Matheus Reis, Conrad Harder and Biel -who had played in the Champions League in Dortmund.

For Brito, it was his debut as a starter, while Lucas Anjos, Afonso Moreira, Eduardo Felicíssimo and Manuel Mendonça were on the bench - the latter two seeking their first minutes for the senior side.

Sporting CP started the game well, looking to dominate the game, and created danger for the first time in the seventh minute. Gyökeres appeared on the left and tried to play the killer pass, but the attempt was cut out for a corner.

Soon after, Ousmane Diomande met an excellent cross from Francisco Trincão with a header into the back of the net. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR changed the decision and awarded it.

AVS Futebol SAD reacted and threatened through Zé Luís, who on two different occasions required saves from Rui Silva. Shortly afterwards, Gyökeres advanced down the right and held the ball up, with possession eventually falling to Brito, who shot just wide.

The Swedish striker created an even clearer chance in the 21st minute, when he was played through by Francisco Trincão. He snaked through the opposition defence and forced Ochoa to make a spectacular intervention for a corner.

The home team also had an approach on goal, but Aderllan Santos missed the target.

On 33 minutes, Sporting CP doubled their lead. Trincão combined with Gyökeres, before a delivery to Maxi Araújo. He in turn helped Gyökeres to convert with a classy finish with his left foot. It was the 23rd goal of the season in Liga Portugal for the striker, and the 35th in all competitions.

Before the break, Diomande headed over the crossbar, and both Trincão and Debast's shots wide, and Sporting CP went into the interval 0-2 in front.

Rui Borges replaced Eduardo Quaresma with Matheus Reis for the second half, in his only change.

Getting the action back underway, Debast shot well off target, and Zé Luís did the same at the other end.

From there, things went south for Sporting CP. AVS Futebol SAD were awarded a penalty for a foul by Diomande, and Zé Luís converted to take the score to 1-2.

The task of maintaining the advantage became even more difficult for Sporting CP in the 78th minute, when referee Fábio Veríssimo, again with the help of VAR, showed a second yellow to Diomande, leaving the team down to ten men for the final moments.

In the 83rd minute, 18 year old Eduardo Felicíssimo debuted in place of Trincão, at the same time as Alexandre Brito was also replaced by Ricardo Esgaio.

Conrad Harder came on for Geovany Quenda in the first of seven additional minutes of stoppage time.

Late on, almost immediately before the final whistle, AVS Futebol SAD made it 2-2 through Gustavo and denied Sporting CP all three points.

Os Leões will play again at 8:45pm on Thursday, visiting Gil Vicente FC in the quarter-finals of Taça de Portugal.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma (Matheus Reis, 45'), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio [C], Maxi Araújo, Iván Fresneda, Zeno Debast, Alexandre Brito (Ricardo Esgaio, 83'), Geovany Quenda (Conrad Harder, 90+1'), Francisco Trincão (Eduardo Felicíssimo, 83') and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach laments the 2-2 draw away to AVS Futebol SAD

Following the 2-2 draw between Sporting Clube de Portugal and AVS Futebol SAD, coach Rui Borges gave a press conference to analyse the match.

"With everything we did in the first half, we deserved much more. It's a very harsh draw for us. In the first half we were far superior, with a lot of quality in our play. We created chances from which we could have increased the advantage. AVS Futebol SAD pressed more in the second half, but without creating any danger. Even with less possession and more losses of the ball, we controlled the game. What happened next was a situation that can happen, although some incidents were more inexplicable than others. We were harshly punished. Playing with ten men, it's normal that we dipped a little, with the conditions we had to face. The players did the best they could and AVS Futebol SAD ended up being happy," he told journalists.

Regarding the refereeing, Borges asked that Sporting CP's games be judged with "the same criteria" as others.

"I'm not saying that the referees are wrong or right, but I'm just asking for the same criteria. In every game there are incidents like that for the penalty, which allowed the opponents to get into the game. AVS Futebol SAD grew in strength because of things we don't control. In terms of the sending off, VAR can't notify the referee, because it's not a red card decision. I'm not going to criticise the referees, but I'd like the same criteria for Sporting CP as with everyone else."

Regarding the group's state of mind, the coach guaranteed that they would be "emotionally calm."

"There's no lack of control. We were switched on, but it's difficult when inside you feel that there has been injustice. It's like that with everyone, but I didn't feel that the team lost emotional balance. That's not why we drew," he said.

The coach looks at the Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund

Rui Borges, coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal, spoke ahead of the game against BV Borussia 09 Dortmund; the return leg of the play-off to reach the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

“The difficulty is huge, as we are going to face a great team that are 0-3 up from the first leg," he acknowledged, before explaining his plan for the rematch.

“The big challenge is, and will continue to be, to gain more consistency throughout the game. A consistency that we had in the first half, where we were intense, competitive and clearly superior. We didn't have that in the second half, and against great teams these details make the difference. It is a difficult result to come back from, but the greatness of the club we represent means that we will never give up and will always do our best to win," he said.

Asked about the absences of Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres from the squad that arrived in Germany, Borges claimed that it was “just team management."

“Everything is a priority in terms of competitions, but we had some injuries that made our decisions difficult throughout this accumulation of games. On Sunday we will also have a very difficult game in the league, where we want to win again and we will have more absences: Morten [Hjulmand] and Ousmane [Diomande]. It is impossible not to have this squad management."

Despite the adversities, especially as a result of the various injuries that have plagued the squad, the coach outlined the ambition that will drive his team in Dortmund, where they will have young players José Silva, Eduardo Felicíssimo, Alexandre Brito, Manuel Mendonça, Afonso Moreira, Lucas Anjos and Rafael Nel all looking for experience.

“We will do our best. We want to respond and dignify the great club we represent. There is no time to regret things, but rather we have to find solutions."

“Tomorrow we will come into the game with great spirit, with a huge desire to win and without looking too much at the result of the first leg. We have to look at the game at hand, and do our best with our strategy and our ideas."

“We have to believe in our path and that, in the future, we will be very happy regardless of all the setbacks that have happened to us. We have to be more resilient and stronger, and this character also defines Sporting CP," he concluded.

The striker promises maximum effort in the Champions League playoff

Sporting Clube de Portugal visit BV Borussia 09 Dortmund on Wednesday (6:45 pm CET), to play the second leg of the play-off for the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking before the game, Conrad Harder assessed the difficulty of overcoming a 0-3 disadvantage from the first leg.

“I feel happy and honoured to play in the UEFA Champions League. Of course it's a difficult game, away from home and with a three-goal deficit, but we will do everything we can to win. The club, the team and our fans demand this," he highlighted, adding that, after the confirmation of Daniel Bragança’s serious injury, the group “want to win the game for him too."

A long list of absentees that includes Jeremiah St. Juste has been added to by Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres, who have not travelled to Germany.

“They are two very important players for us," acknowledged Harder. “We have a good team, which believes in itself. We will give everything for the victory. We feel prepared, and I will give my all on the pitch."

The coach talks after the draw with FC Arouca

Rui Borges expressed his disappointment with the 2-2 draw against FC Arouca in his post-match press conference following the Liga Portugal game.

“It was a very unfortunate game in every way: The own goal, the injuries, the penalty, the sending off... Many situations happened that changed the course of the game. We were trying to fight against them, so it is worth appreciating what the players did, even with ten men, in a game that could have gone either way," the coach began by saying, adding: "It was a difficult game, where everything happened to us, but we have to be able to deal with these things. We remain in first place, so we have to take that away, think game by game and do everything we can to stay first.”

“Today, I highlight the positive contribution from the group. Especially after the sending off. That's why the team ended up exhausted. I think that for everything they did, they deserved to have come out of this game with the three points."

“I’m still very motivated and confident. The belief is there. Like I said, we're still first, that's what we want and we have to hold on to that. The fans hae been important and they were important today, especially when we were left with ten men, and they were giving us that energy to make us believe that we were capable of turning the game around. Only together will we be able to overcome all these circumstances that happened to us," continued Borges.

He also spoke about the injuries to Daniel Bragança and Jeremiah St. Juste, saying that the midfielder's “could be something more delicate” and that the defender's is “more of a muscular problem”. Both will be absent for next week's European game.

"We will fight in that match. We will have to take some precautions, but we will not throw away the game. We will try to come up with strategies and ways to win, because we want to win the game, regardless of who plays.”

Harder and Trincão score for Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 2-2 against FC Arouca in their 22nd game of the Liga Portugal season.

Coach Rui Borges made changes to his initial XI, the most notable being Viktor Gyökeres' starting role.

Sporting CP started with Rui Silva in goal, Iván Fresneda, Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio and Maxi Araújo in defence, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand and João Simões in midfield and a forward line of Francisco Trincão, Gyökeres and Geovany Quenda.

As expected, Os Leões took control of the game but in less than 15 minutes a series of setbacks put them in difficulty.

St. Juste played a ball almost from midfield to Rui Silva, and the goalkeeper’s attempt to control was unsuccessful, as it went into the net and put FC Arouca in front.

The Dutch defender went off injured afterwards, with Bragança also coming off with discomfort. Zeno Debast and Conrad Harder took their places.

The initial equaliser came when Trincão won the ball from Henrique Araújo and passed it to Gyökeres, who knocked it on for Harder to enter the area and send the shot in to make it 1-1.

Gyökeres was then denied on two occasions by goalkeeper Nico Mantl, and Morten Hjulmand, off a corner, headed wide. FC Arouca tested the woodwork and then forced Rui Silva to make a good save in response.

Sporting CP immediately made a quick counterattack, and Quenda entered the area off it before Nico Mantl again got the better of the duel.

During stoppage time at the end of the first half, FC Arouca made it 1-2, as referee Miguel Nogueira considered that Morten Hjulmand had fouled an opponent in the box and awarded a penalty -dispatched by Henrique Araújo.

Although Sporting CP had further efforts before the break, they went into the interval at a deficit.

The second half began with Sporting CP pressing high and creating danger close to Nico Mantl's goal. As a result, Maxi Araújo was caught for a free kick on the edge of the area, which Trincão struck against the wall.

Quenda received from Viktor Gyökeres and aimed an effort towards the far post, but a defender managed to cut it out.

A series of corners followed, and in the first 10 minutes FC Arouca were put under siege, only breaking out on the counter to require the intervention of Rui Silva.

Another blow was suffered with the expulsion of Morten Hjulmand for a second yellow card, as Sporting CP were reduced to ten men with half an hour to play. The task became more and more difficult, as FC Arouca wasted time whenever possible.

In the 75th minute, Harder held the ball on the left, with Trincão appearing and shooting to make it 2-2.

With five minutes to go, Rui Borges brought on Biel and debutant Alexandro Brito, taking Iván Fresneda and João Simões off.

Harder and Gyökeres both missed late chances to grab a winner, whilst Rui Silva saved with his foot in the closing moments. Biel shot over the crossbar with the last attempt of the game, and the score remained 2-2 at the final whistle.

Os Leões will be back in action on Wednesday in Germany, against BV Borussia 09 Dortmund in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff.

The coach previews Saturday night's Liga Portugal game

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Arouca FC at 8:30 pm this Saturday in Liga Portugal. Coach Rui Borges previewed the match at a Friday press conference.

"Arouca FC are a team created in the image of their coach, very well organised, who like to analyse their football. It is up to us to remain on our path and be competent. I believe it will be a good game, against a good opponent, but we have to be Sporting CP, win and keep the gap at the top of the table,” he explained.

Confirming the absences of Hidemasa Morita and Geny Catamo, Borges assured that Viktor Gyokeres is “available for the game."

Once again asked about the many absences, the coach prefered to see this as an opportunity to increase “internal options."

“Iván Fresneda has grown with each game he plays. He has been competitive and is responding. Maxi Araújo and Zeno Debast are playing well in a position that is not their own, and João Simões is gaining importance in the team's dynamics, as well as Conrad Harder."

Underlining that“the biggest motivation is to fight for the title, and this ambition and desire will always override fatigue," he also commented that Sporting CP “are the team with the highest average number of monthly games in Europea” and that “players are not machines but human beings."

Celebrating fifty days in charge, Borges says he has been “a happy coach since day one. The energy that exists at Alcochete  is fantastic across all departments. I promise to work hard and fight to be champions. I want to win every game, regardless of the competition. What the members want most is what I want too."

The coach laments the first leg scoreline against BV Borussia 09 Dortmund

Following the 0-3 defeat for Sporting Clube de Portugal against BV Borussia 09 Dortmund, coach Rui Borges spoke in his press conference to analyse the match.

"In the first half we were clearly the better side. There was a lot of quality in every moment of the game, and we deserved to have gone into the break in front against a great team. BV Borussia 09 Dortmund started better in the second half, and when we thought about making a change, they made it 0-1. That was down to the opposition's merit.
Conceding the goal affected us, the team felt it mentally and then we lost confidence and got into a phase of the game where we couldn't play. When they have space, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund accelerate very quickly with just two touches. With more space between our lines, they were effective on two more occasions," he explained.

Asked about Viktor Gyökeres' fitness, Borges explained that the Swede "had a physical problem -like hundreds of players have. Clubs don't reveal all of the players' injuries. We don't have to specify what Gyökeres' injury is. There was also some training sessions missed by him, and that is noticeable. But the fitness deficit is not only noticeable in Viktor. Maybe in the league it isn't noticed as much, but in this competition the other side have a lot of quality and it is felt more," he added.

"Several very important players for the dynamic of Sporting CP have not been available, so it's down to me to create solutions -even if I'm without an abundance of options. Today we put players on the pitch who are looking to get back in their best shape. We are still competitive, as we saw in the first half, but we were missing that. We have to gain more rhythm in the game."

Rui Borges underlined that Sporting CP "didn't deserve such a big margin of defeat," and promised that his side would go for the return leg.

"We need to dignify the great club we represent in the best possible way. We have quality and we have to try to be very competitive," he said.

"Throughout my journey, I have really believed in our work and competence. I would like to have everyone available and I'm looking forward to that, because it means that the team get better, but while I don't I need to find solutions to be competitive. Sporting CP will fight to be Liga Portugal champions. The team have been fantastic."