Sporting make perfect start
Thursday, 16 September 2004
[1] Second-half goals from Brazilian duo Tinga and Liedson gave Sporting Clube de Portugal a healthy first-leg cushion in their UEFA Cup game against SK Rapid Wien.
Emphatic finish
[2] Tinga opened the scoring on the hour after Rapid goalkeeper Jürgen Macho had failed to deal with substitute Danny's right-wing cross. The home side were reduced to ten men six minutes later when another Brazilian, defender Anderson Polga, was sent off when he picked up a second yellow card for fouling Andreas Ivanschitz, who was subsequently forced from the field. The dismissal ended Rapid's hopes and Liedson's goal ten minutes from time left Sporting firmly in control.
Došek chance
[3] It was a far cry from the opening period at the Estádio José Alvalade, where next May's final will be held. Rapid coach Josef Hickersberger would have gone into half-time the happier of the two coaches after his side had weathered the early storm and begun to force themselves on the game. Indeed, the visitors could have taken the lead after lone striker Tomáš Došek had been presented with a gilt-edged opportunity in the 34th minute.
Ricardo saves
[4] The otherwise excellent Paito made a poor attempt at a pass-back, where the Czech striker was lurking in wait. With time and space, Došek tried to place it past the advancing Ricardo, but the goalkeeper brilliantly denied him with his legs. The talismanic Ivanschitz had another chance for Rapid with the interval approaching after advancing down the left flank, but he too was denied by Ricardo.
Inspired substitutions
[5] Sporting coach José Peseiro changed his forward line in the second half, and the decision proved inspired. On 60 minutes, Danny, a half-time replacement who was providing his side with much needed width, crossed for Tinga to open the scoring. However, Danny would last only until the 70th minute before having to make way for Hugo, although Sporting retained their attacking impetus.
Acrobatic header
[6] With ten minutes remaining, Liedson scored the second goal after another cross from the left. This time full-back Paito made the run and then cut inside before lofting a wonderful right-footed cross to the back post where the Brazilian striker acrobatically headed across Macho and in to the back of the net. It was Liedson's third goal in as many games this season and it gave his side a much more comfortable looking scoreline ahead of the second leg in a fortnight.