Sporting Lisbon coach quits after poor run of form

LISBON, Portugal (AP) Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Bento has quit after his team slumped to sixth place in the 18-club Portuguese league.

Sporting said in a statement Friday that assistant coach Leonel Pontes would take charge for this weekend's match at Rio Ave. The team hasn't won a league match since September and has recorded three draws and a loss in its last four games.

Riot police fired warning shots into the air to keep rampaging Sporting Lisbon fans at bay last weekend after a home draw, and the team drew 1-1 at home with Latvian club Ventspils in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Bento is a former Sporting and Portugal midfielder who took charge four years ago, delivering two Portuguese Cup titles.

Updated November 6, 2009