Jorge Jesus' side dominate but miss out on penalties
There are still some final touches to make, but the hard work being put in by Sporting in what has been a busy pre-season campaign is definitely bearing fruit. Well drilled and improving game after game was how Jorge Jesus' side answered to Tuesday's Iberian Trophy encounter with Villarreal, in what was Sporting's best performance so far.
Jorge Jesus rang the largely expected changes for the starting whistle, with João Pereira (captain), Coates, Naldo and Jefferson in defence behind a midfield of Petrovic and Bruno César. Bryan Ruiz and Iuri Medeiros occupied the space out wide, in support of Alan Ruiz and Barcos up front and with Azbe Jug defending the Sporting goal.
The game got off to a largely lukewarm start, before Alan Ruiz's shot in the 21st minute shot at the Villarreal keeper injected a sense of urgency into the action.
The thermometer read 40 degrees in Badajoz and it took its inevitable toll on the players, with the referee showing his sympathetic side with a water break just after the half-hour mark.
João Palhinha was brought on in place of Petrovic, who was forced off with what looked to be a groin strain, just before Sporting had the ball in the back of the net. However, the linesmen interpreted the attack as offside against Coates, although it was actually Hernán Barcos who took the final touch after a cross from Alan Ruiz.
Half-time was a chance for Jesus to mix his side up, bringing on Schelotto, Zeegelaar, Rúben Semedo and Daniel Podence for João Pereira, Coates, Jefferson and Barcos. The substitutions looked to have proved just the trick and Sporting took the game by the scruff of the neck going forward. Chances remained, however, few and far between.
Matheus Pereira did well to pick up a pass from Slimani to drag the ball back across his defender, but his eventual shot on his unfavoured right foot ended up wide. The young midfielder could have finished the game off in the dying stages with a shot poked under the keeper at a tight angle, but the ball was eventually turned away by the post and the game headed for penalties.
First up was Slimani with an effort that lacked pace and was denied by Andrés Fernández, before Jaume Costa put Villarreal ahead. Bruno César levelled the scoreboard and Jug made a save to restore the deadlock, before four penalties straight were netted with some cool finishing (Iuri, Mário González, Matheus and Cantalapiedra). Sporting's last penalty was handed Rúben Semedo and the defender got a well placed shot away, but the Spanish keeper did well to stretch out and give Villarreal an advantage closed out by Suárez from the last spot kick of the night.
Sporting CP will next be in action in Alvalade on Saturday, hosting Wolfsburg in the Five Violins Trophy.
