Gil Vicente 1-1 Sporting: late strike earns Gil draw against ten-man Sporting | OneFootball

Carlos Eduardo came off the substitutes bench to net the equaliser for Gil Vicente

Sporting’s hopes of winning a third straight Portuguese title took a blow tonight as Gil Vicente earned a deserved 1-1 draw against the Lions in Barcelos.

The Lisbon outfit failed to get their potent attacking game into gear all night, and were somewhat fortunate to go into the break in the lead thanks to Luis Suárez’s goal from a precise Eduardo Quaresma through ball on the stroke of half time.

Gil Vicente have enjoyed a wonderful season, and César Peixoto’s side had more than matched their storied opponents in the opening half.

The visitors briefly got on top at the start of the second period, Andrew producing a sharp save from Suárez.

But Gil hit back with Rui Silva called into action with an equally fine reaction stop to deny Tidjany Touré straight afterwards.

In a game of few chances the hosts were given a lifeline when Sporting centre-back Gonçalo Inácio was shown a straight red card for bringing down Gustavo Varela in the 79th minute.

Gil poured forward and equalised soon afterwards when Carlos Eduardo headed in a superb Luís Esteves cross.

Joelson Fernandes and Morten Hjulmand both had chances to grab a dramatic winner, but the points were shared.

The result leaves Sporting on 42 points at the halfway stage of the season, and should Porto beat Santa Clara in the Azores on Sunday the Lions will fall seven points behind the Dragons.