Sporting CP moved provisionally top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday after securing a 3-1 home victory over FC Alverca in the third round of the season.
Uruguayan defender Maxi Araújo opened the scoring in the second minute before an own goal from Alverca goalkeeper Matheus Mendes and a strike from Colombian forward Luis Suárez sealed the victory, with Figueiredo pulling a goal back for the visitors late on.
The win lifted the side managed by Rui Borges to seven points from three matches in the 2026/27 campaign. Sporting had previously opened their league campaign with a 2-2 draw away at Estrela da Amadora before defeating Vitória de Guimarães 3-2 at home. Alverca, who lost 2-0 against FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão earlier in the season, remain on one point.
Early lead at home
Sporting took control of the match almost immediately when Maxi Araújo dispossessed Davy Gui in midfield in the second minute. The Uruguayan drove forward toward the penalty area and placed a precise finish past goalkeeper Matheus Mendes to make it 1-0.
The hosts continued to push, and in the seventh minute Rodrigo Zalazar took a direct free kick, but his effort struck an Alverca defender stationed at the front post. Alverca responded two minutes later when Vivaldo Semedo found space in the penalty box, but Sporting defender Zeno Debast intercepted the effort to clear the danger.
Alverca created another opening in the tenth minute when Figueiredo delivered a dangerous, low cross across the face of goal. The ball passed the far post untouched as several Alverca attackers were unable to make contact.
First half chances and bookings
Sporting were flagged for offside in the 14th minute after Maxi Araújo attempted a through ball to Luis Suárez. Alverca player Bojang received the first yellow card of the match two minutes later for a foul.
Sporting winger Geny Catamo was cautioned in the 22nd minute. Three minutes later, Sporting earned a corner after Steven Baseya put the ball out following a duel with Iván Fresneda. In the 35th minute, Flávio Gonçalves took a direct free kick for Sporting but sent his shot over the crossbar.
Alverca player Davy Gui was shown a yellow card in the 39th minute. A minute later, Flávio Gonçalves struck a right-footed shot from outside the box that went straight toward the center of the goal, where Matheus Mendes made the save. Luis Suárez was then intercepted by the Alverca defense during a dangerous attack, before Figueiredo tested Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva in the 42nd minute with a powerful long-range effort that was held comfortably. Shortly before the interval, Alverca attacker Touaizi narrowly missed connecting with a hard-driven free kick sent into the box by Figueiredo.
Two quick goals after the restart
The second half began with a stoppage in play in the 53rd minute after Alverca forward Vivaldo Semedo suffered an injury. He was replaced three minutes later by Samy Merheg in a double substitution that also saw André Vidigal come on for Rayan Lucas.
Sporting doubled their advantage in the 55th minute through an own goal. Geny Catamo accelerated down the wing, bypassed defender Isaac James, and delivered a cross into the box that Matheus Mendes turned into his own net.
Alverca attempted to respond and won two consecutive corners in the 57th minute, conceded by Ibrahima Ba and Sergi Altimira. Bojang then saw a shot blocked by a Sporting defender in the 58th minute.
Sporting scored their third goal in the 60th minute when Geny Catamo played a through ball to Luis Suárez. The Colombian striker beat Bojang to the ball, rounded goalkeeper Matheus Mendes, and tapped into an open net to make it 3-0. Alverca won a corner a minute later after Maxi Araújo put the ball out.
Substitutions and late pressure
Alverca made their third substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Marco Essimi for Chissumba. Sporting nearly added another goal in the 68th minute on a counter-attack when Rodrigo Zalazar set up Issa Doumbia, who sent a left-footed strike wide from outside the penalty area.
Sporting manager Rui Borges made a double substitution in the 68th minute, introducing Nestory Irankunda for Flávio Gonçalves and Luís Guilherme for Geny Catamo. In the 69th minute, Suárez tried to play Irankunda through, but the substitute was caught offside.
Suárez had another opportunity in the 72nd minute, choosing to shoot despite having multiple passing options, but his attempt was blocked by a defender. Doumbia missed the target again moments later with another long-range effort. Alverca player Marco Essimi was shown a yellow card in the 74th minute.
Both teams made double substitutions in the 75th minute. Sporting brought on Rafael Ferreira Nel for Luis Suárez and Eduardo Quaresma for Zeno Debast. Alverca replaced Ian Luccas with Vasco Moreira and Davy Gui with Zakaria Kessary.
Alverca pull one back
Alverca pushed forward late in the match. Vasco Moreira saw his 81st-minute shot blocked by Eduardo Quaresma, before Zakaria fired a powerful shot directly at Rui Silva, who held on easily. Alverca won a corner off Ibrahima Ba in the 82nd minute, leading to a right-footed shot from outside the box by Zakaria Kassary that flew wide following a pass from Figueiredo.
Sporting came close to a fourth goal in the 86th minute during a triple save by Matheus Mendes. Luís Guilherme cut inside from the flank and forced a save from the Alverca goalkeeper. Zalazar attempted to score on the rebound, but Mendes saved again before tipping a placed shot from Rafael Nel over for a corner.
Alverca scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute when Figueiredo received the ball inside the penalty area and fired a powerful shot past Rui Silva to make it 3-1.
Sporting made their final change immediately after the goal, bringing on Pedro Lima for Rodrigo Zalazar.
Alverca had a chance to score a second in the first minute of stoppage time, but Figueiredo scuffed his shot from a good position inside the box. Sporting went close in the 92nd minute when Doumbia hit a powerful shot that passed inches wide of the right post.
In the 94th minute, Irankunda set up Doumbia at the edge of the area, but the midfielder shot far off target. Moments later, Pedro Lima broke into the box from a wide angle and forced a save from Matheus Mendes, resulting in a corner.
The match ended following the corner, securing the three points for Sporting.
