José Coelho / Lusa
Everything tied at D. Afonso Henriques, in an exciting 4-4 between Vitória and Sporting that ended as it started, with the “lions” scoring.
Everything seemed to go well for the championship leader with a goal from Gyökeres after just two minutes, but the “lions” would allow the Vimaranenses to come back after winning 1-3.
In stoppage time, Trincão avoided the “lions” third defeat in the championship with a goal to lift the stadium. A great football game.
The first quarter of an hour of the duel between Vitória and Sporting was electrifyingwith the “lions” opening the lead after two minutes through Rootedjust past Quenda.
A “Vimaranense” reaction would arrive soon after through a direct free kick from Tiago Silva, converted exemplarily in the seventh minute.
Despite Vitória’s quick response, Sporting continued trying to impose its pace, with Gyökeres scoring twice in the match, again assisted by Quendafollowing a bad pass from Tiago Silva in his defensive midfield.
From 1 to 2, the game was balanced, with the teams ending the first half with shared ball possession (50%), with practically the same number of actions (351-347) and with Leonine efficiency making the difference.
In the second half, Vitória was determined to respond to the disadvantage, creating several dangerous approaches to the “green-and-white” goal, but was again Gyökeres making it 1-3, completing the hat-trick and, apparently, closing the result.
Rui Borges’ “lions” fell asleep and Daniel Ramos decided to shake up the game with the arrivals of Arcanjo and João Mendes, with both being key players in the Guimarães’ epic comeback.
Kaio César, João Mendes and Michel left D. Afonso Henriques ecstatic, with three goals that gave a epic turnaround on the scoreboard to 4-3.
However, in the final moments of the match, Francisco Trincao He saved a point for Sporting with a cross-bow shot, making the tie 4-4. In an electrifying game, both sides ended up exhausted, but the show it was memorable.
The Game in 5 Facts
1. It was worth the ticket price
New maximum number of goals in a match in the Liga Portugal 2024/2025, the duel between Vitória and Sporting brought eight goals. The more than 26 thousand spectators who were present at D. Afonso Henriques were entitled to a beautiful spectacle, with uncertainty and uncertainty until the end. Sporting is in four of the seven games with the most goals this season in the competition.
2. “Lion” not very good at finishing…
The “lions” nine shots are a new minimum for the team in the League (the previous one was 12 shots).
3. …but effective!
In just nine shots, the “lions” managed to score five, scoring four times, demonstrating a tremendous efficiency of 2.9, in the difference between Expected Goals (xG) and goals scored. A number that is the second highest value of “surplus” in the test, with the “lion” being the owner of the “top 3”.
4. Wall without a Castle
The 14 passes/crosses and the five shots blocked by the “lions” are both new maximums for Sporting in the League, demonstrating the intense pressure they tried to exert on the ball carrier and the competent way in which they closed the paths to their goal…. until 2-3 arrives.
5. Difficulty leaving
The Vimaranenses equaled their maximum record for high-risk missed passes, with 24, demonstrating the difficulties in getting the ball out, especially in the first half.
Hugo Delgado / Lusa
Best of the Field
After closing 2024 as the world’s top scorer with 62 goals, the Swede Viktor Gyökeres he “reset” the counter to 2025 and reopened the hosts with a hat-trick in three shots, an efficiency of 2.2 (goals – xG).
He received 13 progressive passes, the maximum from the “lions” (one less than Kaio César, the maximum in the match), most of them through the central corridor, and “drawn” two yellow cards.
Summary
