Bruges on Tuesday confirmed its good run in the Champions League, with 2 wins and a draw in the last three games, after beating unheralded Sporting de Portugal at home, adding to its second successive defeat at goalless Gyokeres.
The clash between the Belgian and Portuguese champions started in the best way for the Portuguese, with an early goal from Mozambique’s Geny Catamo.
In the 3rd minute, a deep pass from Viktor Gyökeres found Maxi Araújo and the Uruguayan international shot the post, where it came from Catamo, along with veteran Simon Mignolet away from the goal, he did not waste the rebound.
Bruges were disoriented by Sporting’s pressure after the goal, but they slowly closed in on the opposition goal and in the 24th minute they restored parity to own goal by Eduardo Quaresmawho inadvertently deflected a shot from the Greek Christos Tzolis.
It’s not a fun night for Quaresma, who had to be replaced close to half an hour after a collision with Tzolis, who was added to the injured list of the ‘lions’, who took the field with two 17-year-old players in their eleven, Geovany Quenda and João Simões.
In the tie, the initiative passed to the Belgian side, with a great chance saved by the ‘Charrúa’ goalkeeper. Franco Israelthat rejected the target Skov Olsen and Tzolis.
A very close first half gave way to a cold second half with few scoring opportunities.
Just a long shot of Christos Tzolis, the best in the field tonight’s game, fueled the contest in the Belgian region of Flanders, which nevertheless gained momentum in the latter stages.
As Sporting grew into the game, Bruges took the lead Casper Nielsen who received a deep bruise from Hans Vanaken and defeated Franco Israel to take the final 2-1.
match lineup
22
65
55
30
4
44
7
15
9
20
8
1
21
20
2
26
72
42
52
9
17
57
Jan Breydelstadion
51′
Franco Israel1
Geny Catamo21
2′
49′
91′
Maximiliano Araújo20
77′
80′
Matthew Reis2
Ousmane Diomande26
Eduardo Quaresma72
23′
44′
25′
64′
Morten Hjulmand42
82′
48′
João Simões52
63′
Viktor Gyökeres9
33′
Trincão17
42′
80′
Geovany Quenda57
86′
Replacements
Vladan Kovacevic13
Diego Callai41
Jeremiah St. Just3
44′
91′
Zeno Debast6
Ivan Fresneda22
80′
83′
Ricardo Esgaio47
80′
Alexandre Brito50
63′
Henrique Arreiol81
64′
Marcus Edwards10
Conrad Harder19
86′
Mauro Couto78
coach
Nicky Hayen
João Pedro da Silva Esmail Pereira
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
