The summary of the first part of this Group B match of the Champions Elite Round is very easy to do. And it can even be done with a… question: how come Sporting is only winning by one goal difference? The answer, of course reader, is even simpler to give: Bilandzic, Olmissum’s goalkeeper, performed 20 minutes of superlative level. The number 1 of the Croatian team just couldn’t hold Alex Merlin’s ball (10′). Before and after the goal scored by the Italian international of lions, Bilandzic defended everything there was to defend and, in that way, will keep his team in the discussion of the result. Yes, because it is not, at all, exaggerated to say that Sporting could have practically solved the game. But, ahead, Nuno Dias’ commanders have found a real wall!
Intervalo! MNK Olmissum 0 Sporting 1.
20 minutes: First shot by Cardinal, after throw-in by Alex Merlin, for another huge save by Bilandzic.
20 minutes: Technical break requested by Nuno Dias, Sporting coach, six seconds before the break.
20 minutes: Jurlina shot, just off Guitta’s right post.
19 minutes: Cross shot by Alex Merlin and another save by the Croatian keeper.
17 minutes: Sporting almost scores again! Pass by Zicky Té and João Matos, in the center of the area, tried to deflect the goal, but, for good measure, Bilandzic was in the way of the ball and prevented the second of the lions.
14 minutes: Sporting almost scores! Erick Mendonça, standing right, shoots into the side net of the Croatians’ goal.
12 minutes: Waltinho, already after running over an opponent, shoots towards goal, where, once again, Bilandzic shone.
11 minutes: Left foot pump by Zicky Té, after working well and bending from the right to the center, but the ball went slightly over the crossbar of Bilandzic’s goal.
10 minutes: Sporting goal! Alex Merlim, with an indefensible shot, still from outside the area, opens the net at Pavilhão João Rocha. 1-0.
10 minutes: Technical break requested by Duje Maretic, Olmissum coach.
9 minutes: Corner hit by Miguel Ângelo and Caio Ruiz, with a first-rate shot, only fails to score because Jurlina, on top of the line, prevents the ball from entering the Croatian goal.
6 minutes: Miguel Ângelo’s long pass and Cardinal’s half-round shot ends up deflected by an opponent.
4 minutes: Sporting almost scores! Waltinho’s first shot, without dropping to the ground, with the ball hitting the goal bar defended by Bilandzic.
4 minutes: Diego Cavinato’s shot and, for the record, Bilandzic makes another excellent save.
4 minutes: Bomb by Alex Merlin, for another beautiful intervention by the Olmissum goalkeeper.
3 minutes: Diego Cavinato’s shot to Bilandzic’s tight save.
1 minute: Guitta’s long-range shot over the Croatian goal bar.
1 minute: Pass by João Matos and Zicky Té, at the far post, was ready to pull over for the goal, earning, under the circumstances, a great cut by Kustura.
Start of match!
Sporting: Guitta, Erick Mendonça, João Matos C, Diego Cavinato and Alex Merlim
Substitutes: Gonçalo Portugal, Bernardo Paçó, Zicky Té, Cardinal, Pauleta, Waltinho, Tiago Macedo, Caio Ruiz and Miguel Ângelo
Coach: Nuno Dias
MNK Olmissum: Bilandzic, Kustura, Hrstic, Pavic and Postruzin
Substitutes: Baucic, Cizmic, Jurlina, Horvat, Juretic, Perisic C, Kolobaric, Maric e Sekulic
Coach: Duje Maretic
Referees: Gabor Kovacs (Hungary) and David Grondal Nissen (Denmark.
There are already teams!
In addition to Sporting and MNK Olmissum (Croatia), this Group B includes Hovocubo (Netherlands) and Ekaterinburg (Russia).
The lions arrive at this Elite Round (which will be played, precisely, at the João Rocha Pavilion) after having defeated ACCS (France) by 4-3 in the Main Round, Atyrau (Kazakhstan), by 8-1, and Dobovec (Slovenia), by 6-1.
Remember that Sporting is the current European champion in title, having defeated Barcelona (4-3) in the final of the Champions League last season, in a match held on May 3, in Zadar, Croatia.
BOLA online will tell you all about the debut of the lions at this stage of the most important UEFA club competition. Come with us…
Sporting will face, at the end of this Thursday afternoon (7 pm), MNK Olmissum, from Croatia, in the match of the 1st round of Group B of the Elite Round of Champions, in a match that will take place at the Pavilion João Rocha, in Lisbon.
Good evening!
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