Chapter 112
A hint of unconvincing boos began to waft over the José Alvalade Stadium. was scored by Porto in this way, and the fans of Sporting Lisbon were very unconvinced, but they couldn't say anything. On the football field, the winner is always king. It's not that Sporting Lisbon fans can't afford to lose, they just feel that the goal was too bad. His own team couldn't score a goal for so long, and Porto only scored a goal with a counterattack, and the gap between them was not enough for outsiders.
Maniche's goal had the biggest impact on the Sporting Lisbon players, with Porto scoring with their first shot, which was a huge morale blow to them. After the start of the game, the players of Sporting Lisbon increased their attacking intensity, and the idea of pulling a goal back quickly became stronger and stronger in their minds. But sometimes, if you push too hard, it's often just a futile effort.
Instead, Porto seized the opportunity again in the final stage of the first half to play a few counter-attacks. Although they didn't score again, it was enough to make Sporting Lisbon fans break out in a cold sweat. Although Porto has been on the defensive on the field, anyone with a discerning eye can see who has the upper hand on the field. Porto is now like a poisonous snake entrenched in the cave, not moving is enough, and every move is a thunderous blow, focusing on the vital point.
Because of this, Sporting Lisbon's attack can't go up or down, and they want to equalize, but they are afraid that Porto will take the opportunity to counterattack and lose the ball lightly. Such a hesitant and vague method of dealing with it is the worst way to consume one's own body. There is not enough to achieve results. Porto ceded the initiative to Sporting Lisbon, but Sporting Lisbon didn't know how to put it down.
A clear disadvantage on the field. Let the players of Sporting Lisbon blew the whistle in the midfield and couldn't help frowning after leaving the field. Before the game, I thought it would be a good time to win against Porto. But I didn't expect to be made so wolf. Mourinho's unexpected change of tactics made the Sporting Lisbon manager's arrangement useless, but he was pinched by the opponent by seven inches and couldn't move.
At half-time, the manager of Sporting Lisbon couldn't have come up with a better idea. Because it is they who are lagging behind now, and the strategic initiative is no longer in their hands. In the second half, they had to continue to press out and attack, and Porto are bound to continue to defend and counter-attack in the second half. Now Sporting Lisbon can only find a way to attack, and in defence, they can only hope that Porto's counter-attack will not be effective again until they equalize or even overtake. And Mourinho does intend to let Porto continue to defend and counterattack in the second half. There is no need to make much tactical planning.
At the start of the second half, Sporting Lisbon made a slight change in attacking formation, completely abandoning the middle and focusing on two flanks. Jadel pulled out of the box in the second half and acted as a fulcrum, serving both Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma, involving the defence and the ball. At the same time, Sporting Lisbon's two fullbacks also frequently inserted on the side to increase the firepower on the wing. At the beginning of the second half. Sporting Lisbon came up with an all-out attacking posture, with the momentum of wanting to advance the decisive battle.
Seeing the momentum of Sporting Lisbon's all-out attack on the field, Mourinho had a trace of appreciation for the decisiveness of Sporting Lisbon's head coach. If Sporting Lisbon still wants to play the same way they did in the first half. If they don't reach the decisive stage, they will collapse on their own. The longer the situation drags on, the worse it will be for Sporting Lisbon. This is completely Sporting Lisbon's last resort. If it succeeds, there will be drama in this game. Otherwise, the defeat is assured. Jose Mourinho is confident in his protégé and the winner of this fight will be Porto.
In the 53rd minute of the second half. Quaresma finally got rid of the entanglement of Ferreira and Kostiani on the right flank. After receiving a knockback from his own right wing-back, Quaresma made a slight adjustment on the right side of the penalty area and fired a long-range shot. Again, the outside of his right foot, which is his specialty, the ball draws a wonderful outside arc in the air and goes straight to the far corner. The shot had the power and angle to which Bea had done his best, but he still didn't touch the ball and let it go around his hands. Just as the fans of Sporting Lisbon were about to celebrate, a dull "bang" turned their already outspoken cheers into sighs.
Quaresma held his head in a pity, and he was only a few centimeters away from becoming a hero. In recent times, he has learned from his agent Mendes that La Liga giants Barcelona are interested in him. At the same time, Figo, the big man of the Portuguese national team, also came to persuade him to go to Camp Nou and wear the red and blue jersey. The appeal of the big clubs to the young players is always huge, and Quaresma has already made the decision to leave in his heart. This match has a special meaning for him, it was his last game for Sporting Lisbon against Lao Lei, and he did not want to leave with a total defeat.
Cristiano Ronaldo is as thoughtful as Quaresma, and on the recommendation of his Portuguese compatriot Manchester United assistant coach Queiroz, the details of the young Ronaldo have been placed on the table of Alex Ferguson, the godfather of the Red Devils. At the end of the season, Cristiano Ronaldo will also leave Lisbon and land at Old Trafford at the Theatre of Dreams to start his career. Because they have the same agent, Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma both know each other's situation. Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma glanced at each other, both saw a firm fighting spirit in each other's eyes, and at the same time made a gesture to each other.
After the restart, Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma began to switch positions. This was a decision made by the two of them privately, and the two of them had privately rehearsed the change of position before the game. Both of them are good on both sides of the foot, and there are no technical difficulties, except for adaptation. However, this trick worked wonders, and Porto's originally well-organized defense began to become a little overwhelmed and confused due to the frequent switching of positions between the two men. Sporting Lisbon's offensive began to put more and more pressure on Porto's defence.
However, it was not them who scored first, but Porto led by Lao Lei. In the 61st minute of the second half, Lao Lei and Maniche were in front of the siege. Finally caused a mistake by the Sporting Lisbon defender. Lao Lei's strong harassment caused the defender of Sporting Lisbon to make a mistake in the return pass. Lack of strength. Maniche, on the side, quickened alertly. Before the defenders of Sporting Lisbon, got the football. Then the outside of the right foot flicked the instep to the McCarthy, who had already inserted it forward. Although McCarthy got a one-on-one chance with his speed, the ball was slapped by the goalkeeper of Sporting Lisbon because the angle of the shot was too small.
While the fans of Sporting Lisbon were rejoicing, the number 13 of Porto, who followed in the back row in time, made them despair. Lao Lei faced the empty goal and kicked the ball with the sole of his right foot, which flew straight into the net before the Sporting Lisbon defender could block it. 2:0。 Porto doubled the score with a counter-attack that broke the ball up front.
“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!! 2:0! 4 shots, 2 goals!! What kind of efficiency is this!! Porto are in Lisbon and play efficient football! "This result was a bit difficult for Sporting Lisbon fans to accept, and when the team's attack was about to score, Porto actually scored a simple counter-attack goal. Mourinho, who was on the sidelines, saw the goal scored, and excitedly took out his knees again to celebrate. With this goal, Porto are eighty percent sure of the victory in this game.
There is no doubt that Lady Luck favors Porto even more today. Suppose Sporting Lisbon can score the equaliser first. Maybe today's result will change completely. If there is such an equalizing goal, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma switch positions, and the attack of Sporting Lisbon, which is in form, may play even more crazy form. It is not necessary to cut down Lao Lei's Porto. But a qiē is just a possibility, and the established facts cannot be changed. Lao Lei's goal gave Sporting Lisbon a momentum that it was hard to get up. In the case of the trade-off, the victory is getting farther and farther away from Sporting Lisbon.
In the 72nd minute of the second half. Sporting Lisbon, who had completely abandoned the defense, finally pulled a goal back. Pass guò a corner. Cristiano Ronaldo made a header to pull a point back. However, the price of this goal was the extremely exhausting physiques of the Sporting Lisbon players. However, Sporting Lisbon has no way out, they can only continue to grit their teeth and continue to attack, hoping to score another goal. In the final stages of the competition, Sporting Lisbon played the most heroic and massive momentum of the season. On the sidelines, although Mourinho is the head coach of Porto, he can't help but give a thumbs up to Sporting Lisbon's table on the field at this time. In competitive sports, in addition to victory and honor, the most beautiful picture is the magnificence of knowing defeat but still dying on the road of charge. At the José Alvalad Stadium, the magnificent Lisbon battle song sounded, and at this time Sporting Lisbon fans chose to be with the team.
However, competitive sports, football, are cruel after all. In the 79th minute of the second half, facing the wide half of Sporting Lisbon, Porto once again successfully counterattacked. Alenichev's pinpoint cross after running down the right flank gave McCarthy a header. The goal also sealed Sporting Lisbon's defeat once and for all.
Just three minutes later, Kostiani had another successful break at the back. After Lao Lei got the pass, he made a long pass directly with his feet. In the penalty area, Alenichev received an assist from McCarthy and scored with a powerful shot. 4:1, Sporting Lisbon suffered a fatal blow twice in just 4 minutes.
Although in the 86th minute of the second half, Quaresma took advantage of the lack of concentration of the Porto defenders to score a goal with his trademark inward cut and the outside of his right foot, but it was no longer helpful for the big picture. The match ended with Porto beating Sporting Lisbon 4-2 away.
At the moment when the referee's whistle blew, no one went to the José Alvalade Stadium, but there was a warm applause, which was given to Sporting Lisbon and Porto. The fans of Sporting Lisbon and the fans of Porto in the stands are just fans at this time, and there is no difference between teams.
As one commentator put it: "Porto gave a classic counter-attack, while Sporting Lisbon was still defeated. There may be wins and losses in the game, but who cares about the wins and losses. It's a beautiful game, that's enough. ”
After the game, Ray asked Brito for another jersey. With two jerseys, Lao Lei exchanged jerseys with Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma respectively.
Either way, Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma won the approval of Lao Lei in this game.
The three completed their last meeting in the Portuguese Super League. (To be continued......)