Videoton got up and running in Europa League Group G on Thursday with an emphatic 3-0 home victory over Sporting Lisbon in Szekesfehervar.
Hungarian hosts claim comfortable win
Videoton got up and running in Europa League Group G on Thursday with an emphatic 3-0 home victory over Sporting Lisbon in Szekesfehervar.
First-half goals from Paulo Vinicius, Filipe Oliveira and Nermanja Nikolic put the hosts in control at Sostol Stadion, and there was no way back for Ricardo Sa Pinto's visitors.
The result left the Portuguese team bottom of the pool having picked up only one point from their opening two games, while Videoton's first win lifted them to second - one point behind leaders Genk.
Videoton, unbeaten in eight European home games heading into this encounter, had not scored in their previous three European games but needed only 15 minutes to get off the mark.
Nikolic's header was parried by Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio, but Vinicius was on hand to lash home from close range.
Sporting looked for an instant response, but Marcos Rojo's long-range left-footed blast was tipped over by Videoton goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic - and soon they found themselves two down as Oliveira headed Walter's cross into the top-left corner.
Lesson
The visitors continued to search for a way back into the game - Andre Martins firing wide, Marat Izmailov shooting over and Jeffren nodding wide - but once again they were given a lesson in finishing when Videoton proceeded to make it 3-0, Nikolic slotting into the bottom-right corner 10 minutes before half-time.
Videoton, led by Sa Pinto's former Portugal team-mate Paulo Sousa, spent the bulk of the second period defending but held firm - much to Sporting's frustration.
Marcos Rojo, twice, and Ricky van Wolfswinkel directed headers over the bar soon after the restart, with Stijn Schaars and Valentin Viola also sending shots wide.
Viola finally tested Bozovic in the 65th minute, the Videoton goalkeeper fumbling his drive but no Sporting attacker was able to capitalise.
Bozovic recovered his composure moments later to keep out a Jeffren drive as Videoton maintained their clean sheet and healthy lead, leaving Sporting with much to do to get their European campaign on track.
