First defeat in the League | Sporting Clube de Portugal official website
Sporting CP loses at home to CD Santa Clara (3-2)
Sporting Clube de Portugal’s main football team lost, this Friday, at home to CD Santa Clara, by 3-2 in the 17th round of Liga Portugal. It was the first setback for the Alvalade emblem in this edition of the championship.
In the first game in 2022, Sporting CP – coached by Carlos Fernandes, since Rúben Amorim is unavailable due to the COVID-19 pandemic – presented itself in São Miguel with only one change in the starting eleven compared to the last match: Luís Neto took the place of Gonçalo Inácio. On the substitutes bench, Zouhair Feddal and Rúben Vinagre were new, both returning from injury.
The first half proved to be disputed and with opportunities for both sides. The Lions had more ball and more shots, as expected, but CD Santa Clara never rested the visiting defense. The first shot near one of the goals belonged to the islanders, with Cryzan heading for an easy save by Antonio Adán.
However, Sporting CP managed to open the scoring after ten minutes. After a good play on the right between Pablo Sarabia and Ricardo Esgaio, a cut by a defense left a ball for João Palhinha, who in turn shot hard and placed far into the back of the net. An excellent goal by the midfielder, who took advantage of Sportinguistas – in a clear majority – at Estádio de São Miguel.
Shortly after, Nuno Santos threw a ‘bomb’ that didn’t go far and, in the 16th minute, Cryzan was the one to carry out a good individual move before missing the target Leonino. Pedro Gonçalves and Matheus Nunes also put the Santa Clara CD to good use with opportunities in the home area, but it was the Azoreans who got to know the tie when Jean Patric shot wide.
It wasn’t the first… it was the second. After half an hour of play, Sagna crossed perfectly for Jean Patric, with a beautiful header, to make it 1-1.
Until the break, Sporting CP had some opportunities to get back in front of the result: two from Pedro Gonçalves, with one of them hitting the side nets of the goal of CD Santa Clara, and one from João Palhinha, who finished with a detour for easy defense by Marco Pereira. At halftime, 1-1 in the Azores.
The start of the second half had a lot of action and Sporting CP reached 1-2 after 50 minutes. A fantastic cross by Pedro Gonçalves found Pablo Sarabia, who successfully crossed the ball. Another quality goal in the match, this time from the Spanish international.
I still couldn’t breathe because the CD Santa Clara got back to a draw soon after. An excellent play culminated in Lincoln’s goal and, in the blink of an eye, a 1-1 turned into a 2-2.
On minute 58, Bruno Tabata joined Luís Neto’s exit, passing Ricardo Esgaio to the rearmost line of defense, and, shortly afterwards, Pedro Gonçalves’ dangerous free-kick failed only because a defender pulled it into a corner. In the move that followed, Sebastián Coates headed into the hands of Marco Pereira.
With just over 20 minutes to go, in a move similar to the one that resulted in Leonino’s second goal, Pedro Gonçalves once again found Pablo Sarabia, who again shot with danger, but this time for defence.
In response, CD Santa Clara made it 3-2. In a fatal counterattack, Ricardinho appeared in a dangerous position and gave Antonio Adán no chance. A turnaround was made for the formation of the house.
In the final ten minutes, Daniel Bragança replaced Matheus Nunes and Sebastián Coates went forward. But, in compensation time, Sporting CP started playing with one less when Daniel Bragança was expelled by referee Rui Costa – who consulted the VAR.
At 90 + 4 minutes, Paulinho was very close to a draw, but missed the target when he was in an excellent position. The 3-2 really prevailed and CD Santa Clara got the three points.
Sporting CP will now visit Leça FC for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.
Sporting CP: Antonio Adam [GR], Luís Neto (Bruno Tabata, 58 ‘), Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (Daniel Bragança, 83 ‘), Nuno Santos, Pablo Sarabia, Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho.