Portugal
U.E.F.A. Europa League
Group D
Thursday 28th November 2019
Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.01
Sporting Clube Portugal 4 P.S.V. Eindhoven 0, attendance 30,146
9’ 1-0
15’ 2-0
42’ 3-0
64’ 4-0 (pen)
@ Estádio Jose Alvalade
Rua Professor Fernando da Fonseca
1500-801
Lisboa
€30 Admission, Print at Home Ticket
No Programme.
I had seen Sporting Clube Portugal play at the original Estádio Jose Alvalade back on 1st November 2001, when they beat Swedish club Halmstads B.K. 6-1 in a U.E.F.A. Cup match, (in front of 22,000 spectators) which included a hat trick from Brazilian striker Mario Jardel. Two years later, they moved into the brand new stadium of the same name, which was built right next door and was opened in time to be used as a venue for the Euro 2004 Championships, hosted by Portugal.
The stadium is easily reached on the Lisbon Metro system, taking the green line to Campo Grande, which is little more than 100 yards walk away. Match tickets were easily bought on-line and printed at home, but there would have been no problem buying them on the night, although the queue at the ticket office looked massive. As the ground holds 50,466, all seated, there was no problem moving around freely once inside the stadium and sitting where you like, as there were 20,000 empty seats to choose from, although the ‘away’ section looked completely full.
The match pitted fourth place in the Portuguese Primeira Liga against third place in the Dutch Eredivisie, but in truth, it was no contest. Sporting came into this match leading Group D and knew a win would guarantee them qualification for the knock-out stages of the competition. Linzer A.S.K. of Austria, were second, level on points with P.S.V. so it was all to play for.
Sporting came out all guns blazing and were 2-0 up after quarter of an hour. Bruno Fernandes crossed for Luís Phellype to head in the opener, before adding the second goal himself with a 20 yard shot that went in off the inside of the post. French defender Jérémy Mathieu added the third, shooting high into the roof of the net just before halftime, again set up by Fernandes. A trip inside the box resulted in Bruno Fernandes completing a man of the match performance, coolly rolling in the penalty to make it 4-0. P.S.V. were woeful and their vociferous fans were quickly quietened down as they were watching their team get a footballing lesson. Sporting got the win to ensure they top the group and it is Linz that quality with them, following their win versus Norwegian side Rosenberg B.K. tonight, as their better results from the head to head meetings with P.S.V. see them through, regardless of the results in the last round of matches.
Ten minutes after the final whistle we were back at the Metro station and easily on the first train back into Lisbon city centre.
