Sporting has come away from Vila do Conde with a battling draw on matchday one of this year's League Cup, on a chilly Monday night on which coach Domingos Paciência celebrated his 43rd birthday.

The Lions got the game off to a slow start and were actually taken by surprise by some dangerous looking Rio Ave flanks. On 16 minutes, the side led by Carlos Brito took the lead, as João Tomás took advantage of the rebound following a fine save from Marcelo to head his side into lead.

As expected, Sporting responded and began to pick up the pace and press forward, but a lack of a clinical touch in front of goal saw several chances go wanting.

The team from Alvalade kept up the attacking pressure after the break, but Sporting continued to waver in front of goal and Rio Ave clung onto the lead.

Izmailov was then introduced into the action after a long spell on the sidelines though injury, coming in for Capel down the flank. The Russian was looking sharp and quickly whipped a dangerous cross into the box, but Rio Ave managed to scrabble the ball away.

The breakthrough finally came on 87 minutes, When Onyewu continued his tradition of scoring in Vila do Conde after popping up at the far post to convert on a João Pereira cross.

Both Rio Ave and Sporting had the chance to pinch the win in added time, but two amazing saves from Marcelo and a lack of luck at the other end saw the scoreboard locked at 1-1 as the referee blew for the final whistle.

League Cup - Matchday 1
2012-01-02 Estádio dos Arcos
Referee: Cosme Machado
Assistant referees: Alfredo Braga and Inácio Pereira
Result at halftime: 1-0.

Rio Ave: (38) Paulo Santos, (6) Jean Sony, (2) Gaspar, (5) Jeferson, (22) André Dias, (8) Tarantini, (30) Wires, (25) Jorginho, (88) Yazalde, (9) João Tomás and (20) Christian Atsu.
Coach: Carlos Brito.
Substitutions: 66 m - Jorginho for André Vilas Boas (23); 72 m - João Tomas for Kelvin (7); 88 m - Atsu for Saulo (17).
Unused substitutes: (28) Huanderson, (11) Braga, (14) Bruno China and (33) Éder.
Cards: Yellow, Atsu (30 m), Jean Sony (32 m), André Dias (57 m), André Vilas Boas (72 m), Tarantini (82 m), Saulo (90 m) and Gaspar (90 m).
Goal: João Tomás (16 m).

Sporting: (12) Marcelo Boeck, (47) João Pereira, (5) Onyewu, (4) Polga, (48) Ínsua, (77) Elias, (26) André Santos, (8) Schaars, (18) Carrillo, (11) Diego Capel and (9) Wolfswinkel.
Coach: Domingos Paciência.
Substitutions: 52 m - André Santos for Matias Fernandez (14); 64 m - Capel for Izmailov (10); 73 m - Elias for André Martins (28).
Unused substitutes: (1) Rui Patrício, (6) Evaldo, (7) Bojinov and (25)Pereirinha.
Cards: Yellow, André Santos (33 m), Schaars (60 m), João Pereira (80 m) and Polga (84 m).
Goal: Onyewu (87 m).

Text: Andreia Alexandre

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