Primeira Liga football returned with a bang after the long international break as Sporting beat Braga 3-1 in a highly entertaining clash at the Quarry tonight.
Sporting coach Rui Borges left first-team regulars Rodrigo Zalazar, Luis Suárez and Maxi Araújo on the bench after their long journeys from South America, while Braga were at full strength and looking to extend their perfect home record this season – five games, five wins.
Just as a tight first half of few chances seemed to be drifting towards a goalless conclusion, Braga midfielder Denis Huseinbasic found himself in space 25 yards out, tried his luck and his powerful shot rebounded off the post, hit Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva and rolled into the net.
The hosts were buoyed by the goal and came out strongly after the break, Pau Vitor and Gabriel Silva close to doubling their lead, the latter’s shot only kept out by a miraculous interception by Sporting defender Iván Fresneda.
Substitutions make all the difference
At the other end of the pitch, Geny Catamo went close, but the game turned when Sporting coach Rui Borges looked to his bench and brought on the big guns Araújo, Zalazar and Suárez.
Suárez was immediately denied by the alert Braga goalkeeper Bernardo Fontes, but soon after the Colombian was in the right place to power a header into the net from an Irankunda cross. It was Suárez’s 7th consecutive match for Sporting in which he has found the net.
Sporting completed their comeback in the 71st minute. It was an own goal by goalkeeper Fontes, but all the spadework had been done by former Braga player Zalazar with a brilliant driving run into the box and low cross that ended up in the net.
Zalazar was not done yet, the Uruguayan winning the ball deep in his own half, running the length of the pitch and smashing a shot that bulged the net with the aid of a deflection. Again, the ex-Braga midfielder was contained in his celebrations, and his brief but eventful night was then over as he was taken off with a muscle injury.
Sporting saw out the final minutes without undue alarm to move to within three points of leaders Porto, who play in Madeira against Marítimo tomorrow.
