We deserved to win against Lazio, says Sporting Lisbon coach Domingos Paciência - Report
Sporting Lisbon coach Domingos Paciência has claimed that despite not being at their very best, his side deserved to take all three points against Lazio in last night’s UEFA Europa League game.
The Lions hosted Italian side SS Lazio at Estadio Jose Alvalade in the second round of UEFA Europa League group matches and although they won the tie, the ninety minutes were quite nervy for the home side.
Domingos Paciência’s men failed to get into 2nd gear but got the better of their opponents with two first-half strikes from the in-form http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 star, Emiliano Insua.
Dutch striker Van Wolfswinkel continued his fine goal-scoring streak and found the back of the net yet again in Lisbon last night. His 6th goal in 5 games was an expertly taken finish from a cross and took the score to 1-0.
However, the celebrations were short-lived as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Miroslav-Klose-c26049 equalized for Lazio in the 40th minute. Despite being level, Sporting went in search for a lead and were rewarded for their efforts when Emiliano Insua fired home a volley from outside
the penalty area, much to the delight of the home fans.
Insua was later given his marching orders after the break but the score-line remained 2-1 until the final whistle. Although it secured maximum points for the Sportinguistas, it was not one of their best performances of the campaign.
However, keen to deflect criticism off his side, Domingos Paciência has reiterated that the Lisbon outfit deserved to taste victory in last night’s crucial tie.
"We were lucky in some moments of the game, but I think we played a great game and we deserved the victory."
The tactician also said that he was expecting a tough encounter and that is how things unfolded at Jose Alvalade.
"We knew it would be a difficult game, given the quality of Lazio's team. We just did not know we would play more than 40 minutes with 10 men.
"That was something we did not expect and which made our players tired. We had not played with 10 men before and, on the one hand, it was good, because it showed the unity of the group,” he said.
Sporting Lisbon now face Vitoria Guimarães in their next Liga Sagres fixture on October 2, 2011.
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