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EL QF, 1st leg|SPORTING 2-1 Metalist Kharkiv|Alvalade, 29.03.2012, 21:05 CET

1K views 23 replies 5 participants last post by  Knoert 
#1 ·
Huge game for Sporting in Europe as a good result tonight can give us good chances of reaching our 5th European semi final. Our home form in Europe this season has been impressive with 6 wins out of 6 matches, meaning that a win tonight will make us equal the best ever set of consecutive home wins in Europe which belongs to FC Barcelona.

Our opponents tonight are a tricky side. They are representing Ukraine but only their keeper comes from there. It's a dangerous Argie-Brazilian combo that scored no more no less than a scary 25 goals in the previous 6 matches.

In spite of the injuries and the intermitent form of the team under Sá Pinto I believe we can get a good result tonight.

Here's the starting line-up:

Rui Patrício
João Pereira - Xandão - Polga - Insúa
Daniel Carriço - Schaars
Izmailov - Matías Fernández - Diego Capel
Ricky van Wolfswinkel


Subs: Marcelo Boeck, Evaldo, André Martins, Renato Neto, Jeffrén, Carrillo and Diego Rubio.



FORÇA SPORTING!!! :fero:​
 
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#2 ·
0-0 ht difficult first half mentalist looks dangerous but sporting so far organized in defense and threatening a bit on counters . We have to watch out medalist scores alot of ther goals late in the match...
 
#3 ·
0-0 at HT

A very cagey first half showing the reason why this Ukrainian side got much better results away from home so far in Europe than when they play home. This is a side made to play on the counter, full of technically very gifted and very fast players so it's definitely not an easy duck.

Having said so Sporting is playing well, defending almost perfectly and here and there going upfront with some intent even if not creating any clear goal chance so far. We are not playing fast enough, maybe because the two players that should be more responsible for doing so, Izmailov and Capel, are playing clearly below their normal physical capacities, as both were in doubt of starting tonight. Adding to that the poor game Schaars is having so far and we can easily understand why we haven't been really menacing Metalist.

We need Carrillo and maybe even Jeffrén but it's also important not to leave any holes in what has been a really good defensive display from our side. I would be happy with a 1-0 from what I've seen so far.
 
#19 ·
We almost got an excellent score for the second leg and we ended up suffering - again - a goal on added time after Rui Patrício was forced to foul Devic who was certainly going to tap in the after our keeper did one of the several great saves he had tonight. It's a real shame that we couldn't hold on to the very deserved two goals lead but the truth is that we showed an intelligence and a maturity that leave more than hope for what will happen in one week in Kharkiv.

We came to this second half with a completely different attitude really going for the kill, which left the Ukrainians stunned. We scored twice in the first 20' of this second period and could have easily made one or two more. Both Izmailov and Capel came completely rejuvenated and Matías was sometimes brilliant. Insúa was also very good just like Patrício, Xandão and Carriço.

In spite of this goal conceded we did win the game and we go to the second leg as favourites. I am convinced we will make it to the Semis.


Ah! and we equalled Barça's record of 7 straight home wins in Europe. :proud:
 
#20 ·
Tonight there were 40.512 people attending the match which means we passed the 6 million barrier since the stadium was inaugurated in 2003. This was the second best attendance of the season, after the one against FC Porto, beating the one vs Man City. :thumbsup:
 
#23 ·
Well done! :thumbsup:

Just hope you won't screw it in Ukraine, it will be a very difficult match I fear, everyone in Basque Country prays for you to advance ;).
Why is that so? Do they think we are an easier catch than Metalist? :pp
 
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