Luckless Sporting denied by last-minute own goal

Sporting 2-2 Roma

An own goal in the 89th minute cruelly denied Sporting three points and the chance to equal Roma in Group F last night. The Italians went into the lead early through a fine Cassetti strike, but two goals from Liedson put the hosts in front.

With the crowd getting ready to celebrate a vital victory Mancini’s hopeful shot from distance ricocheted off Joao Moutinho and Anderson Polga to leave Tiago stranded as the ball nestled in the back of the net. Sporting remain three points behind the Italians with two matches remaining.

The game started with a bang as Cassetti cut in from the left flank, ran across the edge of the Sporting box and hit a terrific rising shot into the top corner of the net.

Goal ruled out

On 12 minutes the Portuguese side were unlucky not to draw level. Doni, under pressure from Liedson, let the ball slip from his grasp and over the line, but the referee harshly ruled that the Sporting striker had fouled the Roma goalkeeper.

Midway through the first half Sporting got their equaliser as Liedson took advantage of a mix-up between central defender Mexes and Doni to push the ball into the empty net from point-blank range. It was the Brazilian’s 100th goal in official competition for Sporting.

The hosts were now bossing the match and Izmailov, Liedson and Joao Moutinho all came close to putting the Lions ahead before the interval.

The second half started with the visitors again in the ascendancy, with first Vucinic and then De Rossi, twice, almost putting Roma back into the lead.

After weathering the storm, a well-struck Djalo shot from outside the box was deflected just over the bar. The near miss marked the turning point in the half as Sporting wrested back control of the match.

Clever corner

In the 64th minute Sporting’s pressure told as a clever short corner routine between Romagnoli and Izmailov released the latter, and the Russian’s driven cross was met by the diving Liedson who headed into the net.

The goal further boosted Sporting’s confidence, and a third goal for the home team looked more likely than a Roma equaliser. However, on 89 minutes a free-kick for the Italians was played to Mancini, and his shot took a wicked deflection of Polga’s head to wrong-foot Tiago and fizz into the net.

With no time to react the match ended in a draw which practically kills Sporting’s hopes of progressing to the next stage, especially given that their next match is at Old Trafford against runaway section leaders, Manchester United.

Despite the disappointment Sporting can be proud of their efforts and will be confident of continuing in European competition well into the New Year.

Sporting:
Tiago, Abel, Tonel, Polga, Ronny, Miguel Veloso, Izmailov (Pereirinha, 88), Romagnoli, Joao Moutinho, Djalo (Vukcevic, 62), Liedson
Yellow Cards: Abel, Miguel Veloso

Roma:
Doni, Cicinho, Mexes (Ferrari, 46), Juan, Cassetti, De Rossi, Perrota, Giuly (Brighi, 89), Perrota (Esposito, 79), Mancini, Vucinic
Yellow Cards: Cicinho, Vucinic, Cassetti, Perrota

Goals:
[0-1] Cassetti, 4
[1-1] Liedson, 22
[2-1] Liedson, 64
[2-2] Polga, 89 (o.g.)