Amorim saves greatest Sporting victory until near the end
Sporting 4 - 1 Manchester City
New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim marked his final home game with Sporting by delivering one of his greatest triumphs, inflicting a third straight defeat on Manchester City.
This was Cityās heaviest loss since September 2020 and only the second time Pep Guardiola has suffered three consecutive defeats in a single season during his trophy-filled tenure.
To add to Cityās misery, star forward Erling Haaland smashed a second-half penalty against the crossbar.
Sportingās own Scandinavian star, Viktor Gyƶkeres, played a leading role with a fantastic hat-trick. He levelled Phil Fodenās early opener in the 38th minute, then held his nerve to score twice more from the spot in the second half.
The first penalty followed a disastrous start to the second half for City, as Sporting took the lead just seconds after the restart when Maximiliano AraĆŗjo latched onto a through ball and struck a precise shot into the corner.
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According to Sporting regulars in the press box, this was the standout game of Amorimās tenure, with just one final match left at Braga on Sunday.
Another defeat for City Though the lead-up to this game focused on Amorimās upcoming move, much of the post-match talk will inevitably revolve around Guardiola and his team.
A closer look at what happened in Lisbon
Sporting 4 - 1 MCFC
ā European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) November 6, 2024
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Cityās injury struggles meant 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was handed his first senior start in central defence, just days after his first-team debut. He faced a tough test against Gyƶkeres, who made the most of his experience.
City fans held their breath when Manuel Akanji appeared to suffer a head injury in the second half, though the Swiss defender was able to continue after treatment.
Guardiola warned earlier this season would be āa struggleā. He needs his senior players to make a difference, and for a while, it looked as though Foden might provide it with his fourth goal of the season, giving City what looked to be a comfortable lead.
However, they failed to extend that advantage, and City were punished by two quick goals early in the second half.
Typically, a City fightback would follow. Haalandās missed penalty might have provided that spark. The Norwegian has now failed to score in four of his last six appearances.
The problems are affecting not only the teamās performance as a whole but also individual players.
Gyƶkeres to Old Trafford?
Viktor Gyƶkeres was already linked with a move to Manchester United even before the club confirmed Ruben Amorimās appointment, so itās no surprise that speculation has picked up pace in recent days.
Viktor Gyƶkeres has more direct goal involvements (6) than any other player in the Champions League so far this season.
ā Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 6, 2024
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At 26, Gyƶkeres brings solid experience from English football, having previously played for Brighton, Swansea, and Coventry. Yet itās at Sporting where the Swedish forward has truly come into his own.
He now boasts an impressive tally of 66 goals in all competitions for Sporting, including 12 in his last six games after netting four times against Estrela last Friday.
Up until he scored the equaliser, though, he wasnāt exactly having the most productive evening. He missed an early chance to level the gameāseeming to both overthink and rush the moment as he closed in on Cityās goal, only to send a hurried chip straight into Edersonās gloves.
At that point, it was easy to wonder what the fuss was all about. Gyokeres soon sorted that out. Could he be another employee of Sporting to be eventually on his way to Old Trafford?
