Ruben Amorim’s Sporting team pulled off a stunning 4-1 victory against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, thanks to a hat-trick from Viktor Gyokeres.
Though City took an early lead through Phil Foden, Sporting put on a show in Lisbon, coming from behind to secure the win. Amorim, who will soon be leaving for Manchester United, was hoping for a memorable farewell from the Champions League, and Gyokeres made sure of it. The Swedish striker scored his first goal just before half-time, beating Champions League debutant Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and netting the equalizer.
Sporting then took the lead just 19 seconds into the second half, thanks to a goal from Maximiliano Araujo, and Gyokeres sealed the victory with a penalty kick after a foul by Josko Gvardiol. City had a chance to reduce the deficit, but Erling Haaland hit the crossbar from the penalty spot. Gyokeres, on the other hand, showed how it’s done by scoring his second penalty and completing his hat-trick, handing City their biggest defeat in Europe since a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in 2018.
With 23 goals in 17 games across all competitions this season, Gyokeres is set to follow in the footsteps of other star players leaving Sporting for bigger clubs after Amorim’s departure. Reflecting on the famous victory, Amorim, who has been with Sporting since 2020, said, “It was meant to be, there is no other explanation. Everyone who has been part of this journey in the last four years deserved this. It was a special night.”
