Sporting CP beat Vizela 3-0 to start of Primeira Liga title defence under way in perfect fashion
- 3 years ago
Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP got their title defence under way in perfect fashion by beating Vizela in the season opener in Lisbon on Friday.
Striker Cassiano thought he'd given the visitors an early lead, but the striker's volley was ruled out as the 32-year-old had strayed offside.
Sporting grew into the match and began creating chances, and in the 30th minute were awarded a penalty when defender Koffi Kouao used an arm to block Paulinho's effort.
Jovane Cabral stepped up but fired his spot kick over off the crossbar as the match reached half time goalless.
But three minutes after the break the league's 2020/21 top scorer, Pote, picked up where he left off and sidefooted in from 20-yards to give the home side the advantage.
Midway into the second half Pote was on the scoresheet again, this time brilliantly bringing down in the box before firing a rocket into the top scorer for a 2-0 lead.
Paulinho put the result beyond any doubt with 16 minutes to go, calmly sidefooting home from Nuno Santos's low cross as fans at the Estadio Jose Alvalade celebrated three points to kick off the season.
Striker Cassiano thought he'd given the visitors an early lead, but the striker's volley was ruled out as the 32-year-old had strayed offside.
Sporting grew into the match and began creating chances, and in the 30th minute were awarded a penalty when defender Koffi Kouao used an arm to block Paulinho's effort.
Jovane Cabral stepped up but fired his spot kick over off the crossbar as the match reached half time goalless.
But three minutes after the break the league's 2020/21 top scorer, Pote, picked up where he left off and sidefooted in from 20-yards to give the home side the advantage.
Midway into the second half Pote was on the scoresheet again, this time brilliantly bringing down in the box before firing a rocket into the top scorer for a 2-0 lead.
Paulinho put the result beyond any doubt with 16 minutes to go, calmly sidefooting home from Nuno Santos's low cross as fans at the Estadio Jose Alvalade celebrated three points to kick off the season.