Charlton will no doubt be delighted with a one goal victory over Europa League semi-finalists Sporting Lisbon. Johnnie Jackson's last minute header from a Danny Green free-kick won it for the Addicks, in a game that could quite easily have finished at least 0-3, if it weren't for three poor refereeing decisions.
Sporting controlled the ball for much of a quiet first period, but never really managed to threaten the Charlton goal. The men in red were very composed on the ball, in particular young Spanish midfielder Ruben Bover Izquierdo, who was linking the defence and midfield together very well. The first chance of the game fell to Sporting striker van Wolfswinkel, whose scuffed shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Ben Hamer after ten minutes. Midway through the first-half, Charlton forward Danny Haynes was quite clearly brought down inside the area by former Liverpool left-back Emiliano Insua, however referee Calzada Morales denied the forward's strong claims, and booked him for dissent. With two minutes to go before the much needed interval in the Mediterranean heat, Yann Kermorgant played a clever long ball out of the defence, which allowed Haynes to run through at goal, however a heavy touch let a Lisbon defender to throw himself in front of the ball, for goalkeeper Marcelo to come and gather.
Similarly to the Welling game on Saturday, Chris Powell decided to field two different sides in each half, with the only real surprise of the second-half being full-back Chris Solly playing in central midfield, with young Jordan Cousins in Solly's normal position. Six minutes into the second half the Addicks had the ball in the net, after Jackson's cross was poked home by Yado Mambo, yet the Reds were dealt a complete injustice, as the linesman put his flag up despite replays showing the big central defender could not have more clearly been onside. Only five minutes later and Charlton had scored again, only for the assistant to put his flag up against an onside Jordan Cook, who finished wonderfully from a neat Michael Smith through-ball. Lisbon's first chance of the half came through a cleverly worked overhead kick, which never really looked like troubling John Sullivan, and flew straight over the bar. Scott Wagstaff was the next to shoot at the SCP goal, but his twenty yard left-footed effort was saved this time by the Lisbon goalkeeper, diving to his left. With ten minutes to go, Chris Powell made his twelfth change of the match, with former Rangers man and triallist Salim Kerkar replacing Jordan Cousins, allowing for Chris Solly to slot back in at right-back. Soon after, Sporting won a free-kick on the edge of the Addicks penalty area, only for them to squander a big chance to win the game, firing it straight into the wall. The Portuguese were left to rue their wasted chances, as in the final minute of the game Charlton won a free-kick. The David Beckham of the English third division (soon-to-be second) Danny Green swung in a fantastic free-kick from the left, letting skipper and ever-reliable Johnnie Jackson net the winner with a diving header from close range.
Charlton fans went wild inside the San Roque de Lepe stadium, and at home behind their laptops. This win will give fans who may have been doubting this side's ability to compete at Championship level due to a lack of transfer activity a sense of reinstalled belief and confidence, and certainly give the players something to be proud of. Definitely an evening to be remembered.
Charlton (first-half): Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Cort, Evina, Pritchard, Stephens, Bover, Haynes, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.
Charlton (second-half): Sullivan, Cousins (Kerkar), Mambo, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Solly, Jackson, Wagstaff, Smith, Cook.
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