Sporting CP vs Vitória SC

Sporting CP opened their Primeira Liga campaign with a 3-2 win over Vitoria Guimaraes at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, though a tense finish took the shine off what looked like a routine rout for most of the afternoon. The hosts raced into a three-goal cushion before the break, only to watch their visitors claw back twice in the space of two minutes late on. Flavio Goncalves broke the deadlock in the 9th minute, teeing up Fotis Ioannidis before the striker doubled the lead himself in the 22nd. Sergi Altimira, also assisted by Ioannidis, made it 3-0 just before half-time. Vitoria stayed in it deep into the second half, with Samu pulling one back in the 66th minute and Alioune Ndoye striking again just two minutes later to set up a nervy finale. Several yellow cards were shown on both sides, but no red cards or penalties changed the complexion of the game. Sporting held on to grab all three points on opening day, a result that will please the home crowd even if the collapse from 3-0 raises questions about game management. Vitoria Guimaraes leave Lisbon empty-handed but with plenty of encouragement from a spirited second-half response.