00:00KICKOFF
00:30Well, it's a wonderful sea of green here inside the 50,000-seater Estadio Jose Alvalade
00:38A perfect setting for this greatest of clubs, Sporting Lisbon
00:46And if you did just miss it, we are up and running already
00:52He proceeds it all the way
01:01He tries to locate someone up front
01:05Cahill attempts a clearance
01:08That always looked inevitable
01:10The defence dealt with that really well
01:13Jovatic, good run, where to from here?
01:17And he's there to cut it out
01:20And that has been clubbed away
01:23Sporting were imperious when the two sides last met
01:27And the fans are asking for more of the same
01:30He acknowledges that he should have come up with something better there
01:37Look, he's offering an apology to his teammate
01:40Who's clearly miffed at not being picked out
01:43Despite making what looked like the right run
01:50Cuts it out
01:55Gets it upfield
02:00Keeper sends it forward
02:12It is early, but the game hasn't yet sparked into life
02:17Rebic
02:27Not the worst cross in the world, but still room for improvement
02:31Cresswell
02:34Cresswell
02:38Rebic
02:40Cresswell
02:42And he's there to clear it
02:45And it's played forward
02:46clear
02:53And it's played forward
03:02Ford it goes
03:13Chester
03:16Midway through the first half and there's an impotence about this game
03:20That's causing me concern and probably most of the stadium, too. Let's just hope that by the end
03:26It'll have been forgotten
03:32He's in space and looking for options
03:36That's a quarter kick
03:38And it's hoisted clear
03:49Keeps everyone guessing
03:53That's yeah
03:58Tries lifting it over
04:00Go
04:04Going for goal!
04:12Rebic
04:14And here's Jovatic
04:16Jovatic!
04:18Goal! Sporting!
04:25Beautifully dispatched
04:27There was no reaching that
04:29Now that's what I call facing
04:31Right in the corner
04:32He knew instinctively who was square
04:34And didn't need to waste any time
04:36Weighing things up
04:37That's a cracking goal
05:02Sporting take the lead
05:06Well just listen to the reaction
05:08I think you can hear the approval from the support
05:10All around the stadium
05:12Sporting come up with yet another first half goal
05:14It's quite a habit therein
05:16And it's Coutinho
05:32Looking for space out wide
05:36And he's there to hoof it away
05:38He's looked long this time
05:42Steered out wide but
05:43He won't reach that one
05:47Cresswell
05:50Here it comes
05:52And he's made sure that that won't get through
05:56Drives it towards the front
05:58Saka
06:00Saka
06:04It's moving impossible to wrestle off the ball
06:06Shapes the suit
06:08Rebic
06:10Rebic
06:13Rebic
06:14Rebic
06:22Rebic
06:23Rebic
06:28Well that wasn't too dissimilar to the previous attempt
06:30they're just lacking a cutting edge Peter
06:32Attacking play is actually quite good
06:55It forward helps available out wide
07:02And it's Coutinho
07:08Coutinho is fouled
07:20Sporting presented with the perfect chance here to open up their lead. He's having a go
07:25Throwing
07:40Deflected behind for a corner kick
07:42That's gone a long way up and away
07:56Coutinho
07:59Finds himself eased off the ball
08:01Well the defence got the better of him this time, but I'm sure he'll go again
08:10Defending of the desperate variety
08:12And that will be the final action of the first half. So there you have it, a close-fought half of football, but Robert's still had its moments, but ultimately produced just one goal.
08:18And that will be the final action of the first half. So there you have it, a close-fought half of football, but Robert's still had its moments, but ultimately produced just one goal.
08:34I'm sure they'll be very happy with the first half performance and the scoreline. They'll definitely want to maintain the momentum now and finish the job.
08:44Sporting come in, having established that lead, where the narrative is, at least in terms of the scoreline, so far so good.
08:53The action has already resumed here.
08:57Sporting going well here, and they're in a good position to kick on and add to their lead. They don't have to over-commit, but they can place more emphasis on stretching their advantage without necessarily neglecting things defensively.
09:14There's a long ball, he's through the middle.
09:19Real chance!
09:21It's there!
09:23And the second half is off to a flyer!
09:31Well, you've got to say, the odds on him missing from there were very slim.
09:35It's almost criminal to see a defence fail to identify someone who thrives when it comes to shooting stats.
09:40They knew, and yet they didn't need, and they paid the price and deserved to.
09:47That has certainly made things interesting.
09:50Look, this is not for the faint-hearted, Peter.
09:52This is hard and fast football.
09:57Promising move, that. Good inroads into enemy territory, but no joy.
10:01Sucker!
10:02That's great!
10:03Sucker!
10:04Sucker!
10:19Hoy sit forward!
10:22it'll be a throw-in
10:26nicely measured pass
10:34gets up to head it
10:37loses his balance and loses the ball
10:44Rebic
10:52keepers got good distance on that
11:05nice to get it forward quickly
11:13going out for a throw-in
11:19he gets past his man
11:22forward checking back like that always appreciated by the crowd
11:25i think it's great to see that kind of application and desire from a forward
11:29who wants to help out his defense i think you know any good team really
11:33your striker should be the first line of that defense and he's delivering
11:38pass needed to be better than that and he knows it
11:43well intercepted really alert to the danger
11:46that's a little unfortunate he had a lot of people worried then
12:01that's a little unfortunate he had a lot of people worried then
12:20so time for changes on both sides actually
12:33that's a good foot in there
12:44jovatic
12:46jovatic gets it out to the wing
12:49he's left his man muhammad salah
13:00oh that was no routine save oh that's a sparkling save
13:13absolutely sparkling his reflexes work ultra sharp
13:25there's going to be another change here
13:30the chances keep on coming they're awarded another corner
13:38the changes then in quick succession
13:41the clearance is short
13:44he is not one readily to admit defeat don't be surprised if he tries that again
13:53the referee's given a throw
14:07hoist it forward gets into a dangerous position
14:10i needed a better pass there
14:13and it's salah
14:14sporting merit full marks for their attitude and application in trying to win this it means an awful lot obviously
14:27and it's played forward
14:32sporting really looking like men possessed they need to if they want to win it
14:37it's being played forward
14:47he's got better pop
14:50a real chance and a real let off
14:53though i really need to tell you peter that he has to do better especially from there
15:08sporting making another change here
15:22yeah he's run himself into the ground hasn't he and it's it's good to see that the crowd
15:38he would appreciate his efforts because he has put in a real on a shift
15:45that's clear cut it's a free kick
16:00good shot
16:12good shot
16:13hand by the keeper
16:14that has certainly tested for keeper
16:18mature really must have felt he had the measure of the keeper then but how wrong he was
16:24salah
16:25it's the through ball
16:28sporting showing a good level of intensity at this stage they're calling on all their resources now
16:34ball through needs to be good here
16:46this is gone presumably for offside
16:48and that's been leave it clear
17:03look their supporters must be going barmy about this because there's no sense of purpose in what we're seeing
17:21oh shooting chance oh he did the hard part right but look the finish
17:30it didn't quite come off on this occasion but it only needs a gentle tweak
17:43so
17:47done very well to intervene
17:50you wonder if that's it now but there may be one more opportunity peter for a late late steal here
17:57oh that's a terrific save from the keeper well that was high-class goalkeeping there to
18:10back up his his high-class wage
18:25oh
18:31strong punch
18:34board shows there will be three extra minutes
18:39good challenge he just stood firm
18:44and it's been taken straight back
18:50referee looks at his watch and blows his whistle
18:53well no winner here but an intriguing game the result probably a fair reflection it has finished all square
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