Here's our first starting XI of this league:

1 Rui Patrício

21 João Pereira - 15 Paulo Oliveira - 44 Naldo - 4 Jefferson

23 Adrien (c)

18 Carrillo - 17 João Mário - 20 Bryan Ruiz

19 Teo Gutiérrez - 9 Slimani



​

 

Subs: 22 Marcelo Boeck, 55 Tobias Figueiredo, 30 Bruno Paulista, 28 André Martins, 36 Carlos Mané, 60 Gelson Martins and Fredy Montero.

 

Stream for the match: http://firstrowne.eu/watch/362831/1/watch-tondela-vs-sporting-cp---pre-game.html

 

Huge chance for Slimani at 10' but the keeper saved.

 

Another huge chance for us at 13' but Carrillo missed the tap in by a split second

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLOOOOOOOOOOO

JOÃO MÁRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Great attacking move by Sporting with Carrillo launching Teo whose cross was poorly dealt by Tondela's defence and JM didn't miss his volley. 1-0 at 15'

 

Carrillo almost makes the second

 

Spectacular play by Carrillo missing the goal by an inch

 

Tondela 0-1 SPORTING at HT

 

As expected total domination by Sporting in this first half showing a period of great football approximately between 5'-25'. During those 20 minutes we scored a goal and create enough chances to completely close the game showing some fantastic combinations mostly through the middle or on the left flank. Bryan Ruiz once again is showing his class in the last third with some great passing but also Teo is looking very good. The last 20' of this first half were played at a slower pace but I expect another strong start after the break so that we can put the game to sleep.

 

Very telling stats of the first half:

TON-SCP

Shots: 0-6
Shots on goal: 0-4
Passes: 107-273
% of good passes: 59%-85%
Fouls: 12-11
Ball possession: 29%-71%

 

Oh dear what Carrillo did to Tondela's RB now.

 

Another good chance for us but Slimani's finishing was poor.

 

Tondela equalizes at 58' after a very dubious freekick. It's also not clear if the goal scorer handles the ball or not but what counts is that we coonceded a goal in the only chance allowed and we have 30' to win the game.

 

After watching the replay it's clear that the goal shouldn't have counted as there was a handball by the goal scorer.

 

First change by JJ at 69':

Carlos Mané IN for Bryan Ruiz

 

2nd sub at 72':

Montero IN for Teo

 

Last sub at 90:

Gelson IN for JM

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLOOOOOOO!!!!!!

ADRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN

 

Tondela 1-2 SPORTING - FT

 

had to be a penalty at the 94th min...

 

wooooooo!!!!

 

ps. oh btw....the throw in before the penalty...should have been called, the player has one foot inside the pitch:howler:

yes, this will be a good season

 

Yes, that's all true. JJ really brought his old habits with him: a throw in à la Maxi Pereira and a penalty on added time. Praise Jesus! :worship:

 

A mad finish of a game that ended up being much more complicated than it could, and actually should, have been. On the 4th minute of added time Gelson Martins is kicked inside the box by no more no less than Benfica's loanee Murillo and the ref did not hesitate to call the penalty. Adrien as usual did not tremble from the spot and gave us the entirely deserved 3 points.

Sporting did not start this second half as strongly as I predicted but still it always looked very difficult to see Tondela creating any danger. Well, they did create it thanks to a goal that shouldn't have counted, as it came from a free-kick that shouldn't have been called and on top of it the goal scorer used his arm to control the ball before scoring. Sporting battled hard to get the winning goal with most of the players naturally looking tired but fortunately we managed to do it, thanks to the energy injected by young Gelson Martins and also to the class of Adrien.

Individually, I mostly liked Jefferson, João Mário, Bryan Ruiz, Carrillo and Teo (in the first half).

Now let's recover energies and concentrate on the crucial Tuesday match.