Sporting scrapped out a win in Coimbra. From when the season started, the team has done a complete turn-around. They are now just 1 point out of 1st place. Not bad for a team that some said were dead by week 5...
Only concerns I take from this game, is the fact that once again, after having a team down after the half they let them back in. Last week in Aveiro this week in Coimbra. In both cases the games should have been over at the half as Sporting dominated both teams. This to me is showing a bit of the immaturity in the younger players, and the lack of a true "Veteran Leader" as Barbosa can no longer handle 90 minutes. Horrible officiating job today. I for one think the PK against Sporting was not a PK, and several offsides whistled against SCP that did not exist. But a win is a win, and Academica showed me that they weren't about to lay down for the "Leoes"
A very entertaining game. I was wodnering what you guys thought about the Ricardo dive? It was a turning point for sporting playaing against 10 men
Who was the Academica player who took that rocket of a shot at the end of the game? Holy cow, Ricardo made a great save off that rocket.
This coming from a fan of a team that Baia plays for. Or have you forgot his antics against Man U. and Celtic. Ricardo did what he had to do. The question you should ask is the following: Why would an Academica player with a yellow card go and get involved disrupting the keeper? He grabbed and pulled Ricardo's arm. The fact the Ricardo embellished it a bit is not right, but we have seen this happen again and again but every GK.
He didn't grab or pull anything. All he did was pat his arm on his way and Ricardo fell as if he was shot. I agree that he shouldn't have touched him (we all know you can't touch the goalie) but he did dramatize it a little. Bottom line, Faisca should have known better.
I agree, Vasco should not have touched him. The way I saw it and I believe this is the way the yellow card was explained in the Ref's report: Ricardo was attempting to release the ball quickly to start a SCP counter attack. Faisca as him came by grapped and tugged his arm a bit, thus preventing Ricardo from getting the ball away properly. This may seem like a bit of a stretch, especially with the Ricardo plunge to the ground but the card was justifiable. Faisca impeded Ricardo from restarting the game and that is a violation of the rules. Like you stated above, a player with Faisca's experience should have known better. I know this view is a bit slanted since I am a SCP supporter, but you can not argue the fact that he did get in Ricardo's way. Ironically this should have been the call in the Porto v. SCP game when Costa scored his goal. McCarthy clearly interfered on the Play with both Polga and Ricardo. But that is a dead issue..... I will take the win, and move on.
Please let's stick to the game in question here and avoid talking about the SCP vs Porto match. Porto clearly outclassed Sporting in that one, and anyone that saw that game knows that. Ricardo is a good athlete,but his bonehead mistakes is what make him so mediocre and forces fans to think of all the controversies.
I think "outclassed" might be a strong term. "Lucky" would be a bit better. And excuse me but we were on topic, so no need to get riled up.
Baía against Man Utd and Celtic hmm i remember seeing Roy Keane foot on Baía... against Celtic the only player who was unprofessional was Derlei. I agree that the Academica players was stupid but he didn´t pull or disrupted Ricardo, Ricardo saw it was Vasco Faísca, knew he already had received an yellow and simply acted like he was shot to influence the ref to give the second yellow.
Come on now, I know that I am biased but you guys can't be serious. I mean did you guys watch the game? The announcers even commented on the arm pull. How did Ricardo know it was Vasco when he came from behind him as Ricardo was getting ready to throw the ball into play. As for Baia don't you recall his delay of game antics against celtic, and his exaggeration of the Keane foot. In my eyes the 2 incidents are similar, so why chastise Ricardo and defend Baia? But I'm not watching the game through blue colored glasses so I wouldn't know.
"Lucky"? Porto beat Sporting 3-0. Nothing lucky about it. A win was never in doubt for Porto in that match. I'm not the one riled up here. Seems that you got defensive when someone mentioned Ricardo's antics.
I wasn't being defensive, I was making a point. The announcers and all the Portuguese Sports papers stated what I wrote on my earlier posts. Ricardo's arm was pulled as Faisca went by. Whether Ricardo fell down or not is moot as Vasco was going to get a yellow card regardless. And if you watched the Porto v. Sporting game, it was very much in doubt untill Costa scored his flukey goal.
Very much in doubt? Most Sporting fans I know, admitted that it was Porto's game all the way without a doubt. After the so called "fluke" goal, SCP folded like a cheap tent. No fight left whatsoever.
Yep, you guys are right. Such a great a great team and SCP is only 1 point behind them. I guess that win didn't count for too much, huh? Well enjoy last years European Cup and cheers!
JuveleoRules, how much neg rep did you recieve . I've given you like 3 or 4 straight pos reps (that they would allow) and you're still red??? You must have pissed a few people off
Thanks for the support, but I received 3 from the trolling Mexicans back in the "Portugal is in 8 place in FIFA" rankings thread. They couldn't take a joke, and gave me some Neg Rep. But really I am a nice guy My mistake was they were a bit sensitive to the whole Mexican/Landscaper stereotype. And I should have takent he discussion over to the "World Rivarly Thread" I believe that I am still -19 in Rep Points So I will be red for a while......