Sporting beats V. Guimarães and wins the Portuguese league

Sporting beat V. Guimarães 2-0 and secured the 21st title in its history.

The champion did not tremble! Relying only on itself to secure its second title, Sporting beat V. Guimarães 2-0 at José Alvalade. The goals for the green and whites were scored by Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyokeres.

Put on a show or achieve what is most important! A draw at Luz would give Sporting the chance to seal the title at home. “There is no doubt and there can be no doubt”, said one of the fans next to the caravans, a pilgrimage site for members and Sporting supporters who were warming up their voices before the decisive game.

The green and whites had the upper hand to secure the second championship that had eluded the Lions for seven decades. For the title game, which was decisive for the final tally, the only bad news for Rui Borges was the absence of Morten Hjulmand: an otherworldly player on the pitch, a leader in the dressing room, and superlative in both the game with and without the ball. Morita was the man chosen to replace the Dane, joining Debast in midfield.

On the other side, Luís Freire’s team was also forced to at least equal Santa Clara’s result to secure fifth place. These games, as we know, are heart-stopping. Even the coldest of players can feel the importance of the moment.

Sporting started out nervous on the ball, passes were difficult and the Lions showed no skill or ingenuity in channelling the play between the lines. Geny gave the first warning. Dropping to the right, he shot wide of the goal.

Rui Borges’ team had clear control of the ball, but they were not clear-sighted when it came to building up the ball. The team was a bit slow in organising the attack. Although the game was somewhat chaotic on the pitch, the green and whites were getting closer to Varela’s goal, while at the same time containing the opponent’s attempts. Inácio created danger with a header from Gonçalo Inácio that gave the impression of a goal to those in the stadium. Gyokeres made his first appearance in the game in the 16th minute. Geny took the initiative and the Swede finished with a sliding shot just wide of Varela’s goal.

In the centre of defence, the team was struggling. Rui Borges was forced to replace the injured Diomande with St. Juste. In Alvalade, the first explosion of the night could be heard. With the fans listening to what was happening in Braga, Zalazar’s goal was the good news that arrived from the city of Minho. After half an hour, Sporting created the first goal opportunity. Recovering the ball in an advanced area, Gyokeres shot and Varela closed the paths to the goal.

The Lions, lacking inspiration, did not hold back in their attempts to open the scoring. Trincão tested Varela with a long-range shot. Vitória, timid when it came to attacking, tried to make a living. Nélson Oliveira shot on the turn, without threatening Rui Silva, who was practically a spectator on the pitch. Until the end of the first half, the Lions created two more chances. Debast created the move with a cross, Morita headed the ball for the first time, and then Maxi Araújo tried to hit the target with the second attempt, but Varela was there.

The dominance would translate into goals in the second half. After all, it wasn’t about playing well, but rather converting the goal opportunities.

Sporting needed their leaders to show up in the second half. And in the 55th minute, the moment that the fans were waiting for arrived. Pedro, known as Pote, the player that the Lions have missed so much at various points this season, appeared to open the scoring. Debast passed to Maxi Araújo on the left, the Uruguayan left it for a shot on the pass and scored the first goal of the match, with a curling shot.

The goal had the effect of calming the team down. The football wasn’t pretty, but the hardest part had been done. All that was missing was a goal from the usual man.

The newly introduced Quenda took the ball, left it to Maxi, the ball was sweetened by Gyokeres who took Varela out of the way and scored the second goal of the game.

The stands exploded with euphoria, the title was getting closer and closer. People shouted ‘two-time champion’ from the stands, something that had eluded the Lions for so long.