Tondela coach Ivo Vieira conceded his team was thoroughly outplayed by Sporting in their 3-0 defeat, admitting his side lacked the necessary answers against a superior opponent.
Vieira stated that Sporting dominated “at all moments of the game,” proving “more competent” by scoring three goals and “controlling the match.”
“Even trying to do something different, we didn’t have the arguments to nullify what Sporting was offensively and defensively,” Vieira told reporters after the loss.
He described the game as “thankless,” acknowledging that despite Tondela’s effort, they simply “didn’t have the arguments” to compete.
The coach admitted the final scoreline could have been worse. He highlighted the performance of Tondela goalkeeper Bernardo, who made “four or five saves of great value.”
Vieira noted that while a goalkeeper’s job is to make such stops, Bernardo’s display was a “reality” that prevented a larger deficit.
Despite the team’s best efforts, Vieira recognized the “quality” of Sporting’s players.
Tondela attempted to shift tactics when trailing 1-0, introducing an additional striker in the second half to improve ball retention upfront.
This tactical change aimed to disrupt Sporting’s three-man build-up and increase presence in the opposition’s box.
However, Vieira explained that “Sporting’s internal connection is very strong,” ultimately nullifying Tondela’s attempts to take risks and adapt their play.
Sporting’s central defenders were “exemplary,” according to Vieira, before the dominant side went on to score two more goals.