Liedson leads Sporting rout

Eugene Ravdin at Lokomotivi Stadium

Brazilian striker Liedson scored a hat-trick to inspire Sporting Clube de Portugal to a 4-0 victory against FC Dinamo Tbilisi in UEFA Cup Group D.

Bravura display
Dinamo, who lost their opening two group games by the same 2-0 margin against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and Newcastle United FC, were hoping to ignite their campaign, but Liedson’s bravura display left them bottom of the group.

Liedson opener
Dinamo began brightly, making two encouraging forays early on, but Liedson struck for the first time on seven minutes, finishing off a rapid counterattacking move by guiding his shot past goalkeeper Irakli Zoidze. Moments later Dinamo almost equalised when Levan Silagadze's header from a free-kick flew just over.

Defensive mix-up
Dinamo were fortunate not to concede again in the 16th minute when their back-line scrambled away a dangerous loose ball in the box. Liedson then spurned a chance in the 26th minute when a poor clearance from Silagadze fell into his path only for Zoidze to race off his line and clear. However, it was not long before Dinamo did concede again, defender David Chichveishvili and Zoidze misunderstanding each other in the 31st minute to allow Liedson to score from an acute angle.

Comeback quashed
Dinamo enjoyed the upper hand at the end of the first half and beginning of the second, Mikheil Kakaladze shooting just over, before Sporting goalkeeper Ricardo made a fine save off Silagadze's fierce effort from distance shortly after the restart.

Liedson third
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Liedson headed in Roudolphe Duala’s headed pass on 59 minutes, before Hugo Viana added the fourth in injury time. The Georgian side next travel to Panionios NFC on 1 December, when Sporting will look for a third win at home to Sochaux.