From scare to avalanche: Sporting turn 0-2 around and dispatch Bintang Timur with eight goals

Sporting beat Bintang Timur Surabaya 8-2 in a match where they first had to survive an unexpected start before turning the game into a show of strength. The Indonesians led 0-2 after nine minutes, but Nuno Dias's side answered with five goals before the break and left the game practically settled.

The scoreline, however, did not tell the whole story of the opening minutes.

A start that went against the run of play

Sporting began by creating chances and Alex Merlim hit the crossbar twice, in the 3rd and 4th minutes. It was Bintang Timur who scored.

In the 2nd minute, Ardiansyah put the Indonesian side ahead and, in the 9th, Edison Machado Coelho “Neguinho” made it 0-2.

Two chances turned into two goals, and a Sporting side forced to chase a result that contrasted with what they had been producing.

The response begins at 12 minutes

Erick found Sporting's first goal and pulled one back to 1-2, giving the game a different energy.

Bintang Timur also began piling up fouls and reached their fifth in the 15th minute. From there, any further infringement left the Indonesian side exposed to the 10-metre direct free-kick.

And that is precisely where the game broke open.

In the 16th minute, Diogo Santos levelled things: 2-2.

A minute later, Sporting were already in front.

Tomás Paçó converted a 10-metre direct free-kick for 3-2 and, still in the 17th minute, returned to the same spot to repeat the execution and make it 4-2.

In a matter of moments, Bintang Timur went from a lead built early on to a two-goal deficit.

The video review reverses the play

But the most peculiar moment of the first half was still to come.

In the 18th minute, Bintang Timur put the ball in Sporting's net again. The Lions asked for a video review and the decision completely reversed the play: goal disallowed for the Indonesians and a penalty for Sporting.

Rocha failed to convert the penalty but was on hand for the rebound to make it 5-2.

It was Sporting's fifth goal in just six minutes of effective play since Erick's first.

The break arrived with a complete turnaround: Sporting 5-2 Bintang Timur.

Second half: Sporting manage and close the account

The second half brought a different game. Sporting no longer needed to chase the scoreline and began managing a comfortable lead, while still looking to extend it.

The sixth arrived in the 31st minute, from an excellent move by Rúben Teixeira, who created the imbalance and set up Wesley França for 6-2.

The following minute, it was Felipe Valério's turn to assist Rocha. The pivot worked on his own, took the goalkeeper out of the way and made it 7-2, completing his brace.

The tally was closed in the 35th minute.

Diogo Santos set off from his own half, advanced until he faced the goalkeeper and finished for 8-2, also completing his second goal of the match.

A reaction that changed the game

The final result was born, above all, of the way Sporting reacted to the most uncomfortable scenario they could have found.

They were losing 0-2, having already hit the woodwork twice, but did not panic. They found the first goal, took advantage of Bintang Timur's disciplinary problem and, when the opportunity appeared, completely transformed the game.

Tomás Paçó's two 10-metre free-kicks carried particular weight in that change. In a few seconds, Sporting went from a freshly won equaliser to a two-goal lead.

After that, Rocha, Wesley and Diogo Santos turned the comeback into a rout.

From 0-2 to 8-2. Sporting began the night facing a surprise and ended it leaving eight goals as the answer.

Man of the Match: Tomás Paçó

In a game with several players scoring twice, Tomás Paçó appeared exactly at the moment the match turned for good.

With the score at 2-2 and Bintang Timur hampered by accumulated fouls, the Portugal international converted two 10-metre direct free-kicks within moments, making it 3-2 and 4-2.

They were not just two goals. They were the two blows that turned Sporting's recovery into a turnaround.

Final result: Sporting CP 8-2 Bintang Timur Surabaya

Scorers:
Sporting — Erick, Diogo Santos (2), Tomás Paçó (2), Rocha (2) and Wesley França.
Bintang Timur — Ardiansyah and Edison Machado Coelho “Neguinho”.