Sporting CP returned from Braga with a 3-2 victory on Friday, turning around a difficult northern Portuguese evening to move into second place in the Primeira Liga. Luis Suárez’s scoring run continued, while Rodrigo Zalazar made a decisive and emotionally charged contribution against his former club in the opening match of matchday eight.
Braga, coached by Mallorca-born Carlos Vicens, had taken control before the interval. Their breakthrough arrived in the 41st minute when Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva, formerly of Real Betis, put the ball into his own net.
The home side remained on top early in the second half, but Sporting found fresh energy from the bench. Suárez, Maxi Araújo and Zalazar had all begun the match among the substitutes after recent international duty, and their arrival shifted the contest.
Suárez keeps his run alive
Colombian forward Suárez headed Sporting level in the 66th minute. It was his seventh successive appearance on the scoresheet for the green-and-whites, a sequence that also includes a Champions League fixture.
His league total now stands at seven goals, leaving him one behind Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis in the Primeira Liga scoring race.
Sporting went ahead five minutes later in unusual fashion. Zalazar drove down the right and sent a low ball across the area; Braga goalkeeper Bernardo Fontes turned it into his own goal. It was the second own goal of the night, though Zalazar’s direct running created the opening.
Zalazar answers Braga reception
The Uruguay international, born in Albacete, had been loudly jeered on his return to Braga. He answered in the 82nd minute, carrying the ball from inside his own half into the opposing area before scoring Sporting’s third.
Zalazar was replaced soon afterwards with thigh discomfort. Braga later reduced the deficit, but Sporting held on for a 3-2 result.
After drawing their previous two league matches, Sporting have resumed their winning course and now have 18 points. They sit two clear of Benfica, who travel to face Vitória de Guimarães on Sunday. Braga remain seventh, with the defeat damaging their attempt to close on the podium places.
