Mozambique star Geny Catamo leads Sporting to Taça de Portugal semifinal first leg victory

Photo Credit: Sporting CP

Engaged in a tight title race in Portugal's top flight Primeira Liga, Sporting Clube de Portugal and Mozambique national team phenom Geny Catamo are very much in the hunt for a domestic double after defeating Rio Ave 2-0 in Thursday's Taça de Portugal semifinal first leg.

The 24-year-old former Black Bulls star opened the scoring in a dominant victory for hosts Sporting. In the 12th minute, Catamo unleashed a fierce bouncing strike from outside the penalty area to give Os Leões an early lead.

Sporting doubled their lead just before halftime when the much sought after striker Viktor Gyökeres converted a Panenka style penalty kick. Sporting remained in firm control throughout the match against fellow top flight side Rio Ave, who could only manage two shots on target.

The second leg will take place at Rio Ave at the Estádio do Rio Ave FC in Portugal's North Region on 23 April. Catamo, who worked his way through the lower leagues of Portuguese football with Amora and Sporting's reserve club Sporting B, continues to be a regular contributor for the defending Primeira Liga champions.

Catamo now has 7 goals and 3 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions including the UEFA Champions League, where Sporting bowed out to Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 32 while Catamo was injured. Sporting finished runners-up to rivals FC Porto in the Taça last season.