By J Bateman & Scott Cooper
July 19 2002

Wolves Tonight have been thrashed 5-1 by Sporting Lisbon in a friendly which has left Wolves` fans feeling dissapointed. If you are having a good night - read no further.
I said in the Morcambe report that Wolves still hold there heads high until now that is, i know that friendlys are meaningless and it's match fitness that counts and we were playing a Champions League team but the score line of 5-1 is hard to swallow for me , but life goes on i suppose and i'm sure Wolves will learn something from playing Sporting and take it into the next game.

Due to ground renavation the massive avalede staduim wasn't used today but Sporting Lisbons training Academy was which is still a magnificent spectacle.

The game wasnt 5 minutes old before Sporting took the lead when Luis Flipie hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from a threw ball , it got even worse for Wolves when in the 19th minute Kevin Cooper got his marching orders for dissent.

Cooper Sent off for dissent

It wasn't all doom and gloom for Wolves Deano was his lively self hitting the crossbar and earning a freekick shortly after.

Sporting Lisbon were always on top in a frantic first half but the score stayed the same up till half time.

Nothing to really shout home about in the first 15 of the second half but in the 59th minute Sporting made it 2-0 when a cruel deflection from weak shot from Quaresma which left Oakes helpless.

Sporting completely took over the game now and no surprise made it 3 in the 68th minute , another from Rui Bento 3 minutes later and it was goodnight Wolves when Bento rocketed a shot from distance into the top corner.

It was miserable reading for the Wolves supporters who made the trip to Portugal only to see there team ripped to shreads by a classy outfit like Sporting.

The hightlight for the travelling Wolves fans was a second pre season goal from Shaun Newton, the winger indured a torid last half of last season but has now scored 2 in 2 for Wolves and looks like he's enjoying himself again.

Sporting made it 5-1 just before the end and capped a fine evenings entertainment for the locals.

Wolves on the other hand must pick themselves up and say to themselves they won't play that callabre of team in Division 1 next year and use this as a learning curve.

Next stop Madiera and Maritimo FC.

Sporting Lisbon 5 Wolves 1