The chosen day could not be better: in the morning, the official signing of Francisco Trincao, the reinforcement that all the fans expected and longed for; in the afternoon, the first pre-season game broadcast on television. This Wednesday, in Lagos, Sporting faced Saint-Gilloise, Belgian runner-up, and presented for the first time the version of Rúben Amorim’s team for 2022/23.
After a season in which the lions won the League Cup, reached the round of 16 of the Champions League and discussed the title with FC Porto practically until the last day of the Primeira Liga, the summer market has been more agitated in entrances than in exits In addition to Trincao, the central Jeremiah St. Juste, the midfielders Morita and Rochinha and the goalkeeper Franco Israel were signed, with Feddal, Sarabia and João Palhinha starring in the main exits of a squad where the permanence of Matheus Nunes is not yet guaranteed.
An old wish come true for 10 million: Trincao confirmed at Sporting
Thus, at the Belavista Sports Complex, behind closed doors and even without St. Juste, who has not been training due to a sprain, Rúben Amorim facilitated the debuts of Franco Israel in goal and Morita in midfield. Flávio Nazinho, Fatawu, Mateus Fernandes, Luís Gomes and Chermiti, all under 20, were also starters and, of what is probably Sporting’s starting eleven, only Pedro Porro and Coates took their respective places, with Luís Neto and Marcus Edwards also starting. In the Algarve, although not yet called up, Trincao was already sitting next to substitutes André Paulo, Diego Callai, Rochinha, Hevertton, Dário Essugo, Renato Veiga and Diogo Travassos.
The opening moments of the match quickly showed that the lions were maintaining the three-centre system, with Nazinho accompanying Coates and Neto, Fatawu occupying the left aisle and Porro appearing naturally on the opposite side. Chermiti was the offensive reference, supported by Edwards and Luís Gomes, and Mateus Fernandes and Morita formed the midfield duo. Sporting dominated on a large scale in the first half hour, with Edwards leading the first dangerous play by hitting the post after a shot intercepted by Chermiti (16′), and the expected goal was not long in coming.
???? How much we miss seeing our Lions on the field????#PreEpocaSCP #SCPUSG #Sport day pic.twitter.com/cXHOu227SP
– Sporting Club of Portugal (@Sporting_CP) July 13, 2022
In the first 20 minutes, Edwards was fouled in the penalty area while trying to assist Chermiti and the referee did not hesitate to award a penalty. Pedro Porro opened the scoring in the conversion (19′). The lions sealed a well-deserved lead after a match start that took place entirely in the Saint-Gilloise midfield and where Edwards, down the right and with good combinations with Porro, was the main highlight between offensive creativity and defensive work. Chermiti was close to extending the advantage after a good cross from Porro (25′) but Rúben Amorim’s men ended up taking their foot off the accelerator in the final stretch of the first half, even allowing a shot in which Eckert-Ayensa finished off the goal. with a header (39′), although the play was annulled for offside.
the objective of @pedroporro29_ who opened the scoring ⚽️
???? @SPORTTVPortugal #PreEpocaSCP | 1-0 | #SCPUSG #Sport day pic.twitter.com/cBbvWK0zYU
– Sporting Club of Portugal (@Sporting_CP) July 13, 2022
Sporting returned unchanged for the second half, Saint-Gilloise made two substitutions, Franco Israel made the first big save as Leonese goalkeeper (49′) but the Belgian goal was not long in coming. After a quick corner and after two shots intercepted by the Lions defense, Ross Sykes shot from outside the area and tied the game (50′). Rúben Amorim moved for the first time at game time, exchanging Israel, Porro and Luís Gomes for André Paulo, Diogo Travassos and Rochinha —the latter playing the first minutes of Verdiblanco—, and removed Morita and Edwards to put Renato Veiga and Dário Essugo near the end.
Until the final whistle, except for a shot from above by Chermiti (74′) and a good save by André Paulo to a shot by Salah (81′), little happened. Sporting drew with Saint-Gilloise, in what was already the fifth test of the pre-Leon season but the first most serious, and this Thursday the preparation continues with a theoretically more complex confrontation with the Spanish Villarreal.
⏹️ GAME OVER:
the first game of #PreEpocaSCP in the Algarve it ends with a tie on the scoreboard.#SCPUSG #Sport day pic.twitter.com/skSoXr9aw2
– Sporting Club of Portugal (@Sporting_CP) July 13, 2022
Source: Observadora
