- Viktor Gyokeres scored four times on Friday including a 23-minute hat-trick
- Sporting crushed Estrela Amadora 5-1 to continue their perfect league start
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! , available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Ruben Amorim may be on his way to Manchester United, but if Friday night’s performance is anything to go by he’s certainly leaving Sporting fans with a few parting gifts.
His side demolished Estrela Amadora 5-1 in Lisbon with Viktor Gyokeres dismantling the defence with four goals in a stunning performance to maintain the Portuguese champions’ perfect start.
Maximiliano Araujo netted the fifth goal for the hosts in the 85th minute, while Rodrigo Pinho netted in the first half for Estrela Amadora, but Sporting simply had too much to handle.
Gyokeres’ first goal came in the 19th-minute, profiting from a loose deflection inside the box to the left, before cutting in and curling past Estrela Amadora goalkeeper Bruno.
His second – 12 minutes later – was a powerful right-footed strike into the roof of the net from near the edge of the box, having intelligently beaten the offside trap.
Viktor Gyokeres scored four times in Ruben Amorim’s first game since being announced as the new Man United boss
Amorim was confirmed as Man United’s new head coach earlier on Friday after a week’s pursuit
And just before the break, the Swedish striker signed from Coventry City, completed his hat-trick in 23 minutes with a penalty, confidently converted.
Unsurprisingly given the scoreline, Amorim’s side put on an assured show for the Sporting crowd, who are waving goodbye to their boss.
With 20 shot and 65 per cent of the ball, it was perhaps a display that watching Manchester United fans might get excited about.
Gyokeres was in fact asked whether he would be joining Amorim at Old Trafford any time soon, replying: ‘I don’t know. I’m here, and as you can see, I enjoy it.’
He added: ‘Sad that Amorim is leaving, he’s done amazing here, we will do the same job and keep the same faith in the team. We all wish him the best.’
Amorim himself has faced questions all week on United’s interest ever since Erik ten Hag’s departure on Monday.
And that trend continued after the match, with the line of intrigue now turning to how he expects the Sporting fans to react in his final home game before he leaves.
Amorim admitted that he is prepared to take whatever send off he gets from Sporting’s home fans – be that anger or praise
‘In the next home game, whether we win or lose by 15-0, I’ll be there to see what the fans want to give me,’ he replied.
‘I understand their anger, but we move on and time heals everything. It was the best period of my life.’
