The Prague Post - Sporting Lisbon thrash Bodo/Glimt to reach Champions League quarters

After a 3-0 last 16 first leg defeat last week north of the Arctic Circle, Sporting produced a ruthless display in Portugal to book a spot in the last eight for the first time since the 1982/83 season.

Bodo/Glimt have drawn admirers across the world for their superb performances in this season's Champions League but once Goncalo Inacio opened the scoring, the Portuguese champions never looked back.

Pedro Goncalves and Luis Suarez netted to force extra-time and Maximiliano Araujo scored in the 92nd minute to put Sporting ahead for the first time in the tie, before Rafael Nel smashed home a fifth late on.

Bodo/Glimt shocked last season's runners-up Inter Milan in the play-off round and defeated Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase before that.

Those astonishing results were followed up by the first leg rout of Sporting at the Norwegians' 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadium, giving Kjetil Knutsen's side a tantalising sight of the last eight.

Perhaps it daunted them, as they seemed to be playing with fear from the start in Lisbon.

The hosts dominated, racking up shots at nearly the same rate the Norwegian side were completing passes in the opening phases.

Around 2,000 Bodo/Glimt fans made the long trek to Jose Alvalade stadium, where their dream was mercilessly crushed under the rain.

Knutsen selected the same line-up for the sixth Champions League match running, a competition record. Rui Borges's Sporting peppered the Bodo/Glimt goal, with Nikita Haikin saving from Colombian striker Suarez early on.

Kasper Hogh, who scored in the first leg, had a fine chance to send the visitors ahead against the run of play at the other end but dragged his shot a long way wide.

Former Barcelona forward Francisco Trincao's effort was deflected off-target, but he helped create the opener with a corner. Inacio rose highest to nod home and start Sporting's comeback.

Bodo/Glimt almost pulled back level but Odin Bjortuft headed against the crossbar, with the ball flying upwards and then dropping downwards onto the woodwork again, before Sporting were able to recover.

The Portuguese side forged their second goal just after the hour mark with Suarez racing in down the right and pulling the ball across for Goncalves to tap home.

The comeback was well and truly on and Suarez got in on the action himself with a penalty after 78 minutes, following a handball by Fredrik Andre Bjorkan.

Bodo/Glimt held on to force extra-time but after just two minutes of it Araujo fired home, drilling inside Haikin at the near post for Sporting's fourth.

Sporting wisely kept control through the rest of the additional period and wrapped things up at the death when Nel rifled into the top corner.

A.Novak--TPP