Third consecutive victory | Sporting Clube de Portugal official website
Futsal beat Eléctrico FC in the last game of the year (0-1)
Sporting Clube de Portugal’s main men’s futsal team visited and won, this Saturday, Eléctrico FC by 0-1 in the 12th round of the National Championship, which marked the beginning of the second round of the regular phase and was also the last game Leonine in 2022.
In the demanding visit to Ponte de Sor, after a very divided first half, but without goals, Esteban Guerrero appeared, afterwards, to score the goal that – with the help of Guitta – guaranteed Leonine’s triumph. Nuno Dias’ team has already accumulated nine consecutive games without losing, this being the third consecutive victory in the League.
To face the fourth place, just five points behind the Lions, Nuno Dias bet on an initial five composed by Guitta, captain João Matos, Erick Mendonça, Diego Cavinato and Alex Merlim. From an early age it was clear that balance would be the dominant note and, despite the opportunities created on both sides, the null remained.
As soon as three minutes had passed, Guitta had to apply himself to save a free-kick from close range and, shortly afterwards, Cavinato failed to finish off a good chance to score. The game would continue to be well played, but remained closed to the final stretch of the first 20 minutes.
Then, Guitta shone again in goal, in addition to trying to go up frequently to contribute offensively, and then Merlim and Cavinato also threatened, but without success. Sporting CP was accumulating more ball and an increasingly accentuated territorial domain, but the Leonine definition was falling short and the scoreboard remained intact for the second half.
After it seemed that the rhythm of the first half would continue, to a more restless Merlin, Eléctrico FC responded venomously and in two quick transitions came very close to scoring – Guitta and Erick proved to be decisive.
Suddenly, the game became agitated and the opening goal arrived shortly afterwards. The most effective was Esteban Guerrero, who, assisted after an excellent initiative by Pany Varela, finished first and with the buttons to finally open the scoring in the 25th minute.
With the 0-1 the duel became more open, increased the space to play and Sporting CP continued to be, at this stage, the most dangerous formation: Sokolov, on the side, and Tomás Paçó, strong and in good shape, missed the Leonine warnings . With nine minutes left, Miguel Ângelo had everything, in a reload, to introduce the ball into the goal, but he shot over.
In addition to being in the lead, Alvalade’s team showed solidity from then on, making it difficult for Eléctrico FC to react, which would, however, come close to the end. Two minutes from the last horn, Guitta got the better of a dangerous one-on-one and already in the home team’s all-for-everything – with a forward goalkeeper – only the post prevented the tie when the curtain fell.
Despite this scare, the green and white team ends 2022 in the best way, with 29 points, being the leader in terms of the championship, on par with SL Benfica, who have one game less. And it is precisely in front of the Reds, at the João Rocha Pavilion, that Sporting CP will resume the championship in 2023.
Sporting CP: Tomás Paço, Hugo Neves, Erick Mendonça, João Matos [C]Anton Sokolov, Guitta [GR]Bernardo Paco [GR]Diego Cavinato, Pany Varela, Miguel Angelo, Alex Merlim and Esteban Guerrero.