League

José Alvalade
Spectators: 5113 (Terracing: 4002, Seating: 1111, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Pascoal Estrela started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Ripon City's goalkeeper Ronaldo Bulhosa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Nicolau Pinhal. A collision led to Ripon City getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Armando Cruz hit a great ball. If Mariano Franco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Ripon City getting a freekick after 13 minutes play. Jerónimo Alvarenga hit a great ball. Pascoal Estrela struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Ronaldo Bulhosa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Sporting CP. 18 minutes into the game, Mariano Franco cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. David Ventura was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Ronaldo Bulhosa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pascoal Estrela, who was totally free with the ball in the 20th minute. Sporting CP's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Paulino Lousada in the 27th minute. The corner led to Sporting CP's Pascoal Gama getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Ronaldo Bulhosa was a little too slow when Pascoal Estrela got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 30th minute. The score was now 1-1. When Sporting CP's Pascoal Estrela in the 34th minute got a chance for a shot 34th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ripon City's goalie prevented a goal. Ronaldo Bulhosa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pascoal Estrela's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. Ripon City's Ronaldo Bulhosa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 36th minute of the match, managed to save Ripon City from getting a goal against them. In the 40th minute, Pascoal Estrela ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ronaldo Bulhosa was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Armando Cruz kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Mariano Franco stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mariano Franco got free with David Ventura in the 52nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Quintino Azeredo in the 57th minute of play forced Ripon City's goalkeeper Ronaldo Bulhosa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Ripon City's zone, Quintino Azeredo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ronaldo Bulhosa came out of the goal and Quintino Azeredo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Olavo Paião made in the 63rd minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Sporting CP's Rui Sales. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Pascoal Estrela in the 64th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ronaldo Bulhosa saved Ripon City from getting behind. When Jacinto Fonseca fell near the penalty area in the 65th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ripon City's protests and gave Jacinto Fonseca a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Ripon City getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Jacinto Fonseca hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Quintino Azeredo in the 67th minute of play forced Ripon City's goalkeeper Ronaldo Bulhosa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mariano Franco could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 79th minute of the match, but David Ventura made a huge save. Gentil Calçada's late challenge caught a Sporting CP's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gentil Calçada helped the player get up and apologised. Gentil Calçada kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. In the 96th match minute, Ripon City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jacinto Fonseca to maneuver through the defense. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Sporting CP had played much better football throughout.