Alisson Santos, a substitute, delivered the decisive goal and earned the “man of the match” award in Sporting’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Marseille, calling the performance a “dream come true.”
Santos expressed immense happiness following his late-game heroics, which secured an important win for his team. “I am very happy to have scored the goal and helped my team to victory in the match,” he said. “It was very important for us to win the game, we needed it, and I am very happy. We will continue like this.”
Receiving the award for his impactful contribution held significant personal meaning for the player. “It means a dream come true for me,” Santos added. “I always dreamed of this in my career, I worked hard to get here and I am very happy to play in the best competition in the World, score goals and help my team.”
Sporting rallied from a deficit, with Santos highlighting the team’s mental fortitude and fan support. He noted that the coach delivered a motivating talk during halftime, empowering the squad to turn the game around in the second half. “We knew we had the capacity for that and that’s what we went for,” he stated.
The win carries considerable weight for Sporting’s European ambitions. While acknowledging the importance of each fixture, Santos underscored a focused, game-by-game approach. “What we expect [in the Champions League] is to qualify and we will work for that,” he affirmed.