Ruben Amorim was given the perfect send-off in his final game in charge of Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday as the hosts humiliated Manchester City 4-1 on an evening that Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick and Erling Haaland missed a penalty, marking a breathtaking night in the Champions League.
The result was not only an extraordinary one for the hosts, but it also ended Pep Guardiola's team's 26-game unbeaten run in the Champions League while extending their losing streak to three successive games, something they have not suffered in over six years.
In what could have been a tricky opening few minutes for Man City amid the intense atmosphere at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, the visitors got off to the ideal start as Phil Foden won the ball deep in Sporting's half before driving his shot past Franco Israel, who awkwardly threw out a leg as he dived past the strike.
That goal set the tempo for nearly the entire remainder of the first half, with the Citizens absolutely dominant in Lisbon, holding 75% possession and calling Israel into action on numerous occasions, all while Sporting were limited to just one chance - when Gyokeres failed to chip Ederson just minutes after the opener.
Despite City's control, they found themselves pegged back level just before halftime when Gyokeres was sent racing through on goal by Geovany Quenda, and the striker made no mistake this time, striking the ball into the ground to loop over Ederson and into the net, leaving the game level at the break.
All it took was twenty-two seconds from the second half kicking off for Sporting to take the lead, as Pedro Goncalves slipped a wonderous pass behind the City defence and into Maximiliano Araujo, who drove his shot hard and low into the net.
Rather unbelievably, twenty-two seconds from the kickoff once again and the Lions had a third, this time coming from the penalty spot after Josko Gvardiol recklessly shoved Francisco Trincao down inside the box, with Gyokeres firing into the bottom right corner to secure Sporting's quickfire double.
Man City appeared certain to have been awarded an extremely fortunate way back into the game when a controversial penalty was given against Ousmane Diomande for handball just after the hour mark, but Haaland rattled the crossbar with the resulting spot kick, keeping Sporting's two-goal lead intact.
Gyokeres missed a glorious chance to secure his hat trick after rounding the keeper but failing to score, but he was given another opportunity to add his third and Sporting's fourth when Matheus Nunes recklessly brought down Geny Catamo inside the box, with the striker firing the penalty hard and low into the bottom left corner, marking a sensational night for both Gyokeres and Sporting.
SPORTING LISBON VS. MANCHESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Phil Foden goal vs. Sporting Lisbon (4th min, Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Manchester City)
He just loves a European night ⭐
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
4️⃣ goal contributions in 4️⃣ #UCL games for Phil Foden this season.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/QudUiT08xM
What a start for Man City!
Sporting attempt to play out from the back but Hidemasa Morita has the ball snatched from his possession far too easily, with Foden racing forward to take control.
The midfielder drives towards the box as the Sporting defenders backtrack into their own penalty area, with Foden eventually unleashing a powerful, driving shot that goes past Israel with little opposition, the keeper certainly not covering himself in glory.
Viktor Gyokeres goal vs. Manchester City (37th min, Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Manchester City)
There's just no stopping Viktor Gyökeres in that position 🤖
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
21st goal of the campaign for the Sporting striker.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/uhgkDhbuuZ
Sporting are level and who else but Gyokeres!
A long ball is played wide to Quenda, who cuts in towards the centre of the park before delivering a brilliant pass that splits the two central defenders and gives Gyokeres space to run towards goal.
Gyokeres races onto the through ball, using his strength to hold off Jahmai Simpson-Pusey before striking the ball into the ground, sending it looping over Ederson and into the back of the net, absolutely superb from Sporting's talisman.
Maximiliano Araujo goal vs. Manchester City (46th min, Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Manchester City)
THE SCENES! 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
Max Araújo fires Sporting ahead just moments after the second half kicked off 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vVQYgcLKu1
And just like that City are behind!
Directly from kick-off Sporting work the ball around the defence before looking for Goncalves in a wide area, with the forward taking a superb touch to go past his marker and drive towards the centre of the box.
Goncalves eventually plays a beautiful ball behind the Man City defence, taking multiple defenders out of the game, and into the path of Aruajo, who fires past Ederson and into the net.
Viktor Gyokeres goal vs. Manchester City (49th min, Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Manchester City)
Viktor Gyökeres extends Sporting's lead from the spot 🥅
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pmcpSI6t7G
What is happening in Lisbon, this game has been turned on its head in a matter of minutes!
Just seconds after the restart, Gvardiol commits a foolish, unnecessary tackle on Trincao inside the box, shoving the forward to the ground and prompting the referee to award a penalty to the hosts.
Who else but Gyokeres steps up, and the striker adds his second of the night and Sporting's third as he blasts the penalty into the bottom right of the Man City goal.
Erling Haaland missed penalty vs. Sporting Lisbon (69th min, Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Manchester City)
Man City have a great chance to pull a goal back but Haaland's penalty hits the bar ❌
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/hJD1Mo2SyZ
This game has had just about everything so far, Haaland has missed it!
Man City are awarded a fortunate penalty after a VAR check determines that Diomande has handled the ball inside the box, with Bernardo Silva's strike ricocheting up and into the defender's arm.
Haaland, who was denied multiple times in the first half, is remarkably denied yet again as the striker crashes his spot kick off the top right of the crossbar.
What a game!
Viktor Gyokeres goal vs. Manchester City (49th min, Sporting Lisbon 4-1 Manchester City)
Viktor Gyökeres completes his hat-trick to make it 4-1 against Man City 🎩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jfnKwGbOYg
He simply cannot stop scoring - hat-trick hero!
Catamo gets into the Man City penalty area and is brought down recklessly to give Gyokeres the chance to score his hat-trick from the spot, this time Nunes the culprit for City.
Gyokeres steps up and, without any doubt, smashes his strike past Ederson and into the bottom left corner, Sporting running riot in Lisbon.
MAN OF THE MATCH - VIKTOR GYOKERES
© Imago
Gyokeres simply has to be awarded man of the match after a night where he sensationally scored three times against Manchester City, twice from the spot and once from open play to help lead Sporting to a historic night in the Champions League.
Despite missing multiple glorious chances, including a one-on-one minutes after the opener and failing to find the net after rounding the keeper for his hat-trick, the striker did not let his head drop as he continued to do the business in front of goal.
The striker not only showed his phenomenal prowess in front of goal but was also a constant handful for the City defenders, pressing high and relentlessly running the channels, showcasing Amorim's system superbly.
SPORTING LISBON VS. MANCHESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Sporting Lisbon 27%-72% Manchester City
Shots: Sporting Lisbon 9-20 Manchester City
Shots on target: Sporting Lisbon 6-6 Manchester City
Corners: Sporting Lisbon 1-11 Manchester City
Fouls: Sporting Lisbon 8-10 Manchester City
BEST STATS
Phil Foden has now scored the same amount of Champions League goals as Ronaldinho (18). 👀#UCL pic.twitter.com/AgkWFBSH44
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 5, 2024
Viktor Gyökeres has never failed to score in a European home game that he has started for Sporting CP:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 5, 2024
⚽ vs. Atalanta
⚽ vs. Sturm Graz
⚽ vs. Young Boys
⚽ vs. Lille
⚽ vs. Man City
Adding Pep Guardiola's side to the list. #UCL pic.twitter.com/naeGFLW4NS
Man City suffer three defeats in a row for the first time in over six years 😳 pic.twitter.com/PdwZO9rAPG
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Following Amorim's astonishing win against Man City in his final home game in charge of the club, he will manage Sporting for the last time when they travel to face Braga in the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
As for Man City and Guardiola, they have now lost three successive matches, and they will look to bring that uncharacteristic run to an end when they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
Ellis Stevens
