Sporting stun Arsenal with epic performance in London
Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (agg 3-3, Sporting win 5-4 on penalties)
Sporting wrote a golden page in their history tonight by knocking out English Premier League leaders Arsenal from the Europa League, advancing on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time and a 3-3 aggregate score.
Sporting started well but fell behind after a goal by Granit Xhaka. However, the Portuguese team did not let up, doing more than playing against Arsenal and equalizing with a sensational goal from Pedro Gonçalves with a shot from near the halfway line (pictured). Marcus Edwards missed a great chance to win it in regular time, Aaron Ramsdale prevailing in a one-on-one.
It was only in extra time that Arsenal forced Sporting with their big guns in defence, with Adán making some brilliant saves and the Spaniard was the hero in the penalty shoot-out, saving Gabriel Martinelli and Nuno Santos scoring the winning kick and igniting wild celebrations underneath large contingent of traveling fans.
Sporty sovereign right from the start
Despite Sporting’s much-improved form recently, the feeling among the sports inguists was that her team’s big chance was wasted when Paulinho scored a one-on-one in the first leg in Lisbon last week that would have put the Green-Whites 3-1 up, the game eventually ending 2-2.
Bans from captain Sebastián Coates and Hidemasa Morita forced Rúben Amorim to make two substitutions from the first leg, with Ousmane Diomandé and Manuel Ugarte coming into the line-up.
Sporting started confidently, gaining possession and for the first 20 minutes ensured most of the game was played in Arsenal’s defensive half, albeit without any clear chances to score.
However, the good work was undone when Esgaio mistimed an attempt to intercept a through ball from Martinelli, leaving the Brazilian with a clear run on goal. António Adán saved his shot, but the rebound landed on Xhaka, who shot across the net.
Arsenal were buoyed by goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli, causing moments of panic in the Sporting defence, but little by little the visitors regained their footing. A long clear from Adán had Marcus Edwards headed for goal, the Englishman seemed to get through but Zinchenko recovered well to intercept his shot.
Jesus then showed proper footwork in the penalty area and forced Adán to make a sharp save. But Sporting refused to lie down, St Juste boldly ran right through the middle but his shot went well over the bar.
Sporting increases in the second half
If Sporting showed courage in the first half, they gained composure and creativity in the second half and played an outstanding 45 minutes of football in which they were the superior team.
Ugarte and Pedro Gonçalves won the battle in midfield and the latter produced a moment of pure genius to reach Sporting level. Pote picked up the ball on the halfway line, looked up, saw Ramsdale off his line and produced an amazing shot that sailed over the furiously retreating keeper and just under the bar. The first moment of chaos among the 3000 Sporting fans.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had seen enough, bringing in great guns Thomas Partey and Bukayo Saka, but Sporting continued to play their football and showed a wonderful personality.
In the 72nd minute, the visiting team had a great chance to take the lead. Ricardo Esgaio sliced into the field and played a perfect diagonal ball into Marcus Edwards’ run, which went clean and only Ramsdale could beat. Edwards was unable to find a composed finish, instead striving for power while the keeper fended them off with his face.
Amorim made his first substitution in the 90th minute, with Youssef Chermiti replacing Paulinho.
Arsenal turns the screw
It was different in extra time when the home side, cheered on by the large crowd, finally started to apply consistent pressure. A mistake by Sporting substitute Dário Essugo gave Leandro Trossard a clear run on goal, but Adán made a powerful save and pinned the shot to the post with a powerful hand.
Arsenal kept pushing Sporting towards their own goal, especially after star Martin Odegaard came on.
The hour comes, the man comes and goalkeeper António Adán, who has endured a poor season with many mistakes, has timed it right to find his best form again. The Spaniard made two brilliant saves in quick succession against Gabriel Magalhães and his hero status would be cemented on penalties.
Ugarte obliterated Saka to take his second yellow card and subsequent red, but Arsenal didn’t have enough time to capitalize as the referee blew the final whistle shortly after.
All of Sporting’s first four penalties, St Juste, Esgaio, Inácio and Arthur Gomes, scored and after Adán Martinelli’s thwarting, it was up to Nuno Santos, who matched Sporting’s overall effort, to deliver and seal the winning shot with ease Victory.
Analysis: Enjoy the moment…while we can
Aside from the superb scalp currently knocking out England’s best team, it was the nature of the win that made it such a memorable night for Sporting fans.
Aside from the last 10 minutes, this wasn’t a blissful, back-to-the-wall triumph. A young Sporting team displayed remarkable character throughout the evening, never giving up their natural passing game, taking risks and refusing to be bullied by big-name players or an apparent class difference.
Rúben Amorim has already built a strong reputation in Europe and this result will only add to the list of suitors from big-name clubs who have their sights set on the Portuguese coach. The cohesion, calm and skill of Sporting’s collective performance tonight speak volumes for Amorim’s ability to formulate a game plan and get his players to execute it.
Individually, several players also increased their reputation without end. Manuel Ugarte made a monstrous turn despite his late red card, Gonçalo Inácio and St Juste stood at the back and made generous contributions up front, teenager Diomandé belied his lack of elite experience by not making a mistake while not making a mistake Pedro Gonçalves, not to mention his superb goal, is sure to be on the radar of many top teams after his two appearances against Arsenal last week.
As always, the joy of Sporting night is somewhat spoiled by the knowledge that their top talent – on the pitch and in the dugout – are now likely one step closer to being poached. But for now, Sporting fans will be basking in the glory of a European night to be talked about for years to come.
By Tom Kundert
Goals:
[1-0] Xhaka, 19′
[1-1] Pedro Gonçalves, 62′