Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Ruben Amorim’s Sporting smashed Manchester City 4-1 in one of the most incredible UEFA Champions League matches.
The Old Trafford-bound coach’s last home game looked like being an unhappy night for home fans when Phil Foden netted early and Gyokeres missed a one-on-one chance.
City laid siege to the Sporting goal for the next half an hour but against the run of play, Gyokeres took advantage when played through on goal, before a remarkable start to the second half.
In echoes of the start of the 1974 World Cup final, no City player touched the ball after the kick off before Ederson got a slight contact on Maximiliano Araujo’s shot on its way into the net.
Two minutes later, Gyokeres scored his second from the penalty spot before Erling Haaland had a chance to halve the deficit, after a fortuitous penalty award. But he clipped the crossbar, adding to City’s woes on a night to forget.
Just nine minutes from time, the prolific Gyokeres netted again with another spot kick to end an incredible night at the Estadio Jose Alvalade and impose on Pep Guardiola his third straight defeat in all competitions.
Talking Point – Amorim arrives in Manchester a ready-made United hero
The gloom around Manchester United is set to lift when Ruben Amorim arrives at Old Trafford next week.
The prospect of a drubbing at the hands of City, the likes of which many United managers have faced since Sir Alex Ferguson (and he famously did in the Maine Road massacre), looked realistic in the first half.
Foden will seldom have put in a better half of football, yet City always looked vulnerable on the break with their high-line and youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey placed at the heart of their defence on his full debut. It is hard to question Guardiola but one would imagine Josko Gvardiol might have been a better choice there – though he did clumsily give away Sporting’s first penalty.
United fans can scarcely have felt this positive about a new manager. Jose Mourinho had the pedigree but the rose was off the bloom; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was adored but it would have taken a leap of faith to feel he could match Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
How can Red Devils not believe in Amorim now? Especially given the way Sporting played after their half-time hairdryer.
Player of the Match – Pedro Goncalves (Sporting)
He was fantastic throughout the game. It was particularly striking when he set Gyokeres free for his first chance and then brilliantly creating the opportunity which Araujo converted for the go-ahead goal.
There will be a lot of talk about Gyokeres coming to Manchester United, but Goncalves could be an even better signing.
Player Ratings
Sporting: Franco Israel 7; Debast 6, Diomande 8, Reis 7; Araujo 7, Hjulmand 6, Morita 6, Quenda 7; Trincao 7, Gyokeres 8, Pedro Goncalves 9*.
Subs: Braganca 6, Catamo 7, St Juste 6, Quaresma 6, Harder 6.
Man City: Ederson 6; Lewis 7, Akanji 5, Simpson-Pusey 5, Gvardiol 5; Kovacic 6; Savinho 6, Foden 8, Silva 6, Nunes 7; Haaland 5.
Subs: Gundogan 6, Doku 6, De Bruyne 6.
Match Highlights
4′ GOAL! SPORTING 0-1 MAN CITY (FODEN) Foden scores with a powerful strike after he robbed Sporting of possession in their own half. The goalkeeper strangely dived too far to his left as the ball rocketed to his right.
8′ GYOKERES THROUGH ON GOAL! He broke the offside trap and ran unchallenged through on goal to Goncalves’ pass, but then tried a dink over Ederson who stood tall and caught the effort comfortably.
31′ GREAT EFFORT FROM HAALAND! And it is met with a good stop from Israel. The Norwegian striker was picked out by a perfect Foden cross from the left flank and he struck low and true but the keeper got down to parry away.
38′ GOAL! SPORTING (GYOKERES) 1-1 MAN CITY! This goal didn’t seem coming. Gyokeres was put through one-on-one again, this time by Quenda, and this time holds off Simpson-Pusey before steering the ball over Ederson and into the net.
46′ GOAL! SPORTING (ARAUJO) 2-1 MAN CITY A goal straight from the kick off with City not touching the ball as Goncalves glides in from the left and plays a ball through to Araujo, who drilled a shot deflecting in off the under leg of Ederson.
47′ PENALTY! Trincao runs into the box and is pushed in the back by Gvardiol.
49′ GOAL! SPORTING (GYOKERES) 3-1 MAN CITY Gyokeres sends Ederson the wrong way from the penalty spot.
64′ CITY APPEAL FOR A PENALTY! Silva with a great dribble in the box and he is blocked by Diomande, who the Portuguese star believes handled the ball. The ball was blocked by Diomande’s leg and then flicked up hitting his outstretched arm. This would be harsh.
67′ PENALTY! A lifeline for CIty. They are very fortunate.
69′ PENALTY MISSED! Haaland sends the keeper the wrong way but his blasted penalty flicks the top of the crossbar and flies over.
79′ PENALTY! Nunes is robbed by Catamo and he brings him down for another spot kick. Nunes gets a yellow card.
80′ GOAL! SPORTING (GYOKERES) 4-1 MAN CITY The Swedish striker has his hat-trick. He drills the effort low to the corner past Ederson’s right hand.
Key Stats
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