Game to be played at the Jose Alvalade XXI Wednesday April 18, 2007 Kick Off is scheduled for 4:00PM EST.
19 CONVOCADOS PARA A TAÇA O Sporting convocou 19 jogadores para a Taça de Portugal, frente ao Beira-Mar, para o encontro das meias-finais da prova, que se realiza na quarta-feira, no Estádio José Alvalade, às 21 horas. Lista de convocados: Guarda-redes: Ricardo e Tiago; Defesas: Miguel Garcia, Abel, Caneira, Polga, Tonel, Ronny e Tello; Médios: Custódio, Miguel Veloso, Farnerud, Pereirinha, Nani, Moutinho e Romagnoli; Avançados: Alecsandro, Yannick e Liedson.
No guessing here on who will start. The same eleven. We need to come out strong, and maintain the same quality of pressure we've been playing at.
Not pretty, but mission accomplished. We honestly couldn't expect the team to play as well as they were forever. Moutinho starting to prove some people wrong saying he couldn't score. Now back to the Liga, and hope Porto loses some points next week.
After the 11th minute SCP just stopped playing. Not till the BM goal in the 47th did they pick up the pace a bit. Best players on the field were Nani and Veloso. Mission accomplished...
Just done watching the VHS tape of the game. Entry like a lion into the game and left it like a jackal , but carrying a rabbit for dinner. I agree , B-Mar style of play in the first half lend the game an illusion of being done with very early on. Sporting found it too easy and just started snoring with the lights still on. Once B-Mar started to get confidence as their possession of the ball increased and with the help of an erratic refereeing, it got to the point that Sporting was disconnected. In the second half with B-Mar scoring early on and with their more aggressive posture, Sporting struggled. It brought memories of the last game between the two teams 3 weeks earlier. But in the end, " tranquilidade " ruled the day, and Sporting is in the final.
Honestly IMO the reason was the two e's. Goals came too easy, and too early. The team has other objectives, and the Taca is not the only one, so I can excuse the fact that they took the foot off the pedal. BM's second half weird goal did wake up the boys, and showed the character they have, that when needed they can turn it on.
Here are some small images from the game. Liedson taking LB Vidigal (I think young brother of ex-Sporting player) on. Nani fighting for a divided ball. Hero of the game Super-Moutinho. His movements with, and off the ball are simply amazing.
I don't think enough has been said about Moutinho. A player of his stature (height) playing like a much bigger player is just amazing to watch. Great passing ability, and great movement without the ball. Once again we are watching a "Special" player grow up before our eyes.
What's up with Veloso takin' over the role of messenger-in-the-field? Did P. Bento demoted Moutinho from that responsibility ?
It might just be a way of PB showing faith in Veloso. He has clearly emerged as one of the better young prospects and relegated 2 other players to the bench (Custodio and Paredes) Veloso is currently playing the holding mid and he is more involved in the transition of defense to offense so it makes sense to have him pass along what the coach what's the team to do. I wouldn't read too much into it.