Sporting returned to winning ways in the women’s league and defeated Rio Ave 3-1 away. The Lionesses soon showed that they wanted to dominate the game and win again, after the draw in Braga and the defeat, the only one in the championship, against Torreense.
Rio Ave was a difficult opponent in this 7th round of the League, trying to create danger near Sporting’s area, but it was from Ana Capeta’s head that the first dangerous move came, in the 21st minute, with the Vilacondenso goalkeeper, Cassie Coster, denying the goal with a good intervention.
In a hard-fought game, Rio Ave’s goalkeeper managed to deny the Sporting fans a goal throughout the first half and the scoreless result at half-time reflected the good response given by the home team to Leon’s offensive football. But, right at the start of the second half, Telma Encarnação appeared at the edge of the area and, from the start, fired in the first goal of the game.
Just before the hour of play, Sporting increased their lead. An excellent assist from Beatriz Fonseca paved the way for Carolina Santiago’s goal and increased the score to 2-0.
Soon after, Rio Ave tried to react and coach João Marques made three changes (Mafalda Nunes, Serena Queirós and Carlota Cristo entered), in an attempt to counter the Leo game, but it was one of the substitutions made by Sporting coach, Micael Sequeira, who became more effective when Brittany Raphino, just introduced, extended the lead to 3-0.
