Sporting slip against AFS SAD, Champions League fate slips away (Video) | OneFootball

Sporting drew 1-1 with AFS SAD this Sunday, April 26, in a match counting for the 31st round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. After the defeat against Benfica in the previous round, the Lions endured an unfortunate night against the team at the bottom of the table.

Playing away at the northern side’s ground, the Alvalade club enjoyed plenty of possession in the opposition half and created a few dangerous moves, especially through their full-backs pushing forward, but they lacked precision in front of goal and it remained goalless at half-time.

In the second half, Rafael Nel made it 1-0 in the 47th minute. Georgios Vagiannidis broke down the right and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. Devenish turned it toward his own goal and the Portuguese forward got the final touch to open the scoring. In the 66th minute, AFS were awarded a penalty for a handball by Hidemasa Morita. Pedro Lima converted from the spot to make it 1-1. Until the final whistle, the Lions kept pushing in search of a goal, but without success. AFS still had a chance to score a second in the 90+5', but Óscar Perea’s shot hit the post.

With this draw — their ninth in 51 matches this season — Rui Borges’ side now have 72 points and remain third in the Liga Portugal Betclic standings. Porto (82) are in first place (with one more game played). Benfica are second with 75, also having played one more match.

The green-and-white side return to action next Wednesday, April 29, against Tondela. The match, from round 26 of the Portuguese league (rescheduled), against Gonçalo Feio’s team, will be played at 8:15 p.m. at the José Alvalade Stadium.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.