Gyokeres’ killer instinct, in the 114th minute of extra time, after an error by Santa Clara’s defense guaranteed Sporting’s victory, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, with goals from Harder (74 ‘) and Pedro Ferreira (90+7’). The freshness of the Nordics ended up getting the better of a match in which the lions showed a lot of frustration within the four lines and from the stands, culminating in the expulsions of Esgaio and St. Fair.
João Pereira maintained the eleven that beat Boavista (3 to 2), while Santa Clara managed the squad’s effort with six changes: Neneca, Pedro Ferreira, João Costa, Guilherme Ramos, Lucas Soares and Klismahn were in the game.
Quenda turned the oasis into a mirage
Start of the game with a tepid tone and few approaches to goal, the first of which was an unconvincing attempt by Calila, although, in the 16th minute, Sporting had a great opportunity to open the score. After a great pass from Debast, Geny did everything right to serve Quenda on a silver platter, but the young attacker, with an open goal and in the small area, managed to miss the target.
Os lions They entered their best phase, taking control of incidents, but without being able to break through the Azorean resistance, as a result of Vasco Matos’ good defensive organization. Near the break, Hjulmand even scored a goal from goalkeeper Neneca, but the move was canceled because the Dane adjusted the ball with his hand before the shot.
The successive stoppages prevented more opportunities until the break, which ended with the score being null and void, quite naturally, given the few opportunities. Quenda’s move was the only one worthy of note, while the islanders made dangerous approaches, although without being able to achieve them.
Harder did what seemed hardest
Upon returning from the dressing rooms, Gabriel Silva replaced João Costa in the attack of the Azoreans, who took advantage of the impatience coming from the stands to waste some time in the ball throw-ins and, thus, increasing the opponents’ frustration. And even when Quenda discovered an imbalance in the opponent’s area and left Trincão with everything to score, Frederico Venâncio appeared on the line to clear the danger. After that, Neneca returned to the ground for some more whistles from the stands.
The strategy ended up bearing fruit off the field as Ricardo Esgaio, the oldest in the squad, Leo, saw double yellow for protesting to the referee while he was warming up. In an increasingly hotter environment, St. Juste and Harder went into the game and the Danish striker only needed a minute to untie the knot, after a great cross from Quenda that Sidney Lima let go, allowing a subtle deflectionat 74 minutes.
Brave Azoreans
Sporting were able to keep their opponents at bay… at least until stoppage time. There, in a succession of opportunities, Gabriel Silva missed the wide open equalizer in the small area, Franco Israel flew in for an absolutely incredible shot from Guilherme Ramos, which deserves its own paragraph and about five repetitions.
But, in the corner, Pedro Ferreira appeared in the right place to score the equalizer and declare extra time, at 90+7 minutes!
Wear, commitment and instinct
With physical complaints appearing since the first half, it was clear that this extra time would be played with great difficulties on both sides. The only one who seems to have endless piles is Gyokeres, who escaped into the opponent’s area and served Trincão for a shot on the figure, before the Swede had found space to shoot Neneca’s body.
In the second part of extra time, Mauro Couto was in the game for Sporting, Bruno Almeida was a bet for the islanders. However, mental fatigue combined with pressure got the better of him when, in the 114th minute, Frederico Venâncio didn’t look before making a pass to the goalkeeper, Gyokeres smelled the blood in the water, stole the ball, dodged the goalkeeper and secured access to the quarter finals.
Man of the Match Flashscore: Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting).
