So that João Pereira would not continue to be known as “the coach who beat Amarante”, Sporting had to do something. It didn’t need to be a rout, nor did it need to be spectacular. He just needed to win, which, you know, hasn’t been easy at all. And it wasn’t. But the “lions”, after four consecutive defeats, managed to return to triumphs, a 3-2 against Boavista that was not at all peaceful and with many errors. If this is the beginning of something or if it will fall again, we will see what happens in the near future.
At least in the declaration of intentions, João Pereira got it right. It was necessary to win and not project futures other than a triumph over Boavista. “If” Sporting draws with Boavista, “if” Sporting loses to Boavista, these were the “ifs” that the coach didn’t want to face. The “lions” had never suffered five defeats in a row. How would the team avoid this fate? Would I be able to do this test of life against 15th place?
What was seen in the first half hour in Alvalade supported this promise of recovery. Speed, verticality, some excess urgency perhaps, but with all the control, all the intentionality against an opponent who didn’t defend particularly well, despite that being his only mission on the pitch.
Until the goal, the “lions” could have scored three. In the 8th minute, a cross from Geny Catamo, for an incomplete save by César, who redeemed himself by deflecting Gyökeres’ rebound. At 13′, Trincão crossed, Gyökeres headed out. At 19′, Maxi Araújo responded perfectly to Matheus’ request to the heart of the area, but got in the way and didn’t even shoot. Uncharacteristic failures, especially for the Swede, but which made sense with everything that has been happening.
At 23′, the goal. Offered by Boavista and taken advantage of by Sporting. The team’s attack was not brilliant, the ball went to Pedro Gomes, who made a late mistake for César. Gyökeres appeared between the two and, almost from the baseline, scored the goal. But as recent history shows, scoring first means nothing. How would Sporting react to their own goal?
He started by losing yet another goal, again Gyökeres missing almost inside the goal after some excellent work from João Simões (another good game from the young midfielder). Then, he conceded the equalizer almost before half-time. The ball arrived in Salvador Agra, the experienced winger had all the space he wanted to make the cross (Matheus was watching) and Bozenik, with even more space, headed the ball to make it 1-1, the Slovak striker’s first goal of the season.
Everything perfectly in line with how João Pereira’s Sporting have been, not knowing exactly what to do when the opponent decides to attack – and Boavista had done nothing until scoring the goal. This time, the “lions” managed to react, regaining the advantage in the 49th minute, with a good move by Maxi on the left, leaving it for Trincão, who had an open route to the goal, to make it 2-1.
Once again, Sporting didn’t know how to deal with the advantage and Boavista, justice to their coach Cristiano Bacci, knew how to hurt the “lion” a second time. A high ball launched before midfield by Abascal, Dabo won Geny’s aerial duel and directed the play to Bruno Onyemaechi, who had space and equalized in the 58th minute – Israel didn’t look very good in this move.
And now, which Sporting would appear for the last half hour? The one who loses, or the one who wins? At 66′, Quenda sent the ball towards Gyökeres, the Swede won the line and left it for Trincão to score his second of the game. Would it be enough? He was.
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