Pedro Lima and a stoppage-time Catamo goal get Sporting past Casa Pia
Pedro Lima scored on 13 minutes and Geny Catamo in the 94th as Sporting won 2-0 away to Casa Pia in Rio Maior, opening round 10. It ends a winless week in the league and lifts Sporting to 21 points for now, one behind Benfica and six behind FC Porto, who both still have to play.
Sporting beat Casa Pia 2-0 on Friday night in Rio Maior, the small Ribatejo town where Casa Pia are playing their home games this season. It was the opening match of Primeira Liga round 10 and Sporting’s first league win since their home defeat by Académico de Viseu.
The goals
Pedro Lima put Sporting ahead after 13 minutes, and for most of the night that single goal was all that separated the sides. The nerves only eased right at the end, when Geny Catamo made it 2-0 in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The league’s own official match report singled out Pedro Lima as the man who settled it, again.
A bad week, partly repaired
Last Sunday Sporting lost 2-1 at home to newly promoted Académico de Viseu, their first league defeat of the season, and left the pitch to white handkerchiefs in the stands. This result doesn’t undo that, but it puts three points on the board at a moment when coach Rui Borges is under real pressure.
Where the table stands
Sporting move to 21 points for now, clear of Santa Clara on 18. Benfica have 22 and FC Porto, alone at the top, have 27, with both yet to play their round-10 games. Casa Pia stay 17th on 7 points and are still waiting for their first home win of the season.
By Vasco Almada
Illustration: Tugadaily