Sporting secured a 2-1 home victory over Olympique Marseille in the Champions League, overturning a deficit after a crucial first-half red card against their opponents and a second-half equalizer from substitute Geny Catamo.
Catamo, who came off the bench, emphasized in a post-match television interview that the game changed significantly after the red card.
“In the second half, the game was different because of the red,” he said, adding that half-time adjustments were also vital for the team’s comeback.
Catamo scored Sporting’s first goal in the 69th minute, leveling the score.
Marseille’s Emerson received the red card before the end of the first half, reducing their team to ten men.
Sporting had started the match strongly but conceded an early goal on a transition play.
Regarding the team’s form, Catamo acknowledged that “it’s a moment in football, it’s normal,” but reiterated the team’s commitment to “work towards our objective, which is game by game, trying to win every game.”
He also stressed a game-by-game approach for their Champions League ambitions.
The team will now focus on preparing for their next match, Catamo concluded.