After a soporific start, tonight’s Portuguese Cup semi-final first leg burst into life as Nacional scored two goals shortly before half time through Mario Rondon and Candeias to stun Sporting at the Alvalade. The hosts rallied in the second half, and after Nacional were reduced to ten men following Marcio Madeira’s red card, Elias reduced the deficit and incessant pressure finally paid off when Schaars’ free kick in the 95th minute found its way into the net.

With fewer than 18,000 fans in the stadium the mood was very different from the electric atmosphere created with Saturday’s record crowd against FC Porto. And the feeling of “after the Lord Mayor’s show” seemed to filter into the minds of Sporting’s players who put in a such a poor display in the opening forty-five minutes that Domingos admitted post-match “the first half was too bad to be true.”

The Lions weren’t helped by an early injury to top scorer Wolfswinkel, who was forced off with what looked like a hip injury after just 10 minutes. Bulgarian striker Bojinov came on in his place.
 

Nacional’s massed defensive ranks had little trouble in containing Sporting, who did not force Vladan into a single save in the first half. The islanders nearly took the lead on the half hour as an excellent run and cross from Skolnic was wasted by Rondon who shot wide of the post. The Venezuelan made no mistake with his next chance, heading in a Stojanovic cross stylishly in the 36th minute.

The setback failed to wake up Sporting, and a calamitous mistake from Anderson Polga led to Nacional doubling their lead on the stroke of half time. The Sporting captain, the last defender, allowed Candeias to rob the ball off him and the former Porto winger drove forwards and placed a low shot past Patricio.

Jeffren, clearly lacking match fitness, was replaced by Capel at half time, and whatever Domingos said during the interval had the desired effect as Sporting adopted a far more  positive and proactive attitude from the moment the match resumed.

Matias Fernandez forced Vladan into a sharp save upon the restart, and in the 62nd minute a flowing move involving Matias and Capel led to a golden chance for Carrillo who shot over the bar when it seemed easier to score. In between those two near misses the misfiring Bojinov made little of two presentable opportunities.
 

Nacional’s already difficult task of keeping Sporting at bay got even harder midway through the second half as Marcio Madeira tripped Capel in full flight and was shown his second yellow card and subsequent red to leave the visitors down to ten men for the final 25 minutes.

The goal that Sporting had been threatening finally came as Elias volleyed in a Schaars cross from close range in the 75th minute. The hosts were now pouring forward and only a magnificent full-length dive from Vladan prevented Elias from scoring a header. Soon afterwards the home fans thought they had seen an equaliser as Onyewu bundled the ball into the net, but the American’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Matias Fernandez then gave Vladan another chance to shine, with the Montenegrin saving the midfielder’s powerful shot superbly. As the game became stretched, Nacional almost nicked a third as the impressive Rondon did well to work himself a shooting opportunity and fired just over the bar.

Sporting were given hope as the referee decreed five minutes of stoppage time, but Nacional intelligently played the ball to the flanks and looked certain to take a lead into the second leg.
 

A last-gasp attack saw Capel win a free-kick wide on the right, and Rui Patricio ran into the box knowing it would be the last throw of the dice. Incredibly, Schaars’ free-kick eluded everyone and crept into the far post for a dramatic equaliser. It was just reward for the Dutchman, who put in a fine performance on what was his 28th birthday.

Nacional’s players were furious the goal was allowed to stand, feeling that at least one Sporting player had strayed offside and/or it was an indirect free kick and did not touch anyone and was therefore illegal.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of that decision, a draw was a fair result, and sets up a fascinating second-leg in Funchal on 8 February.

Sporting:
Patricio, Joao Pereira, Onyewu, Polga, Insua, Elias, Renato Neto (Carrillo, 42), Matias Fernandez, Schaars, Jeffren (Capel, HT) Van Wolfwinkel (Bojinov, 10)

Nacional:
Vladan, Claudemir, Stojanovic (Marcio Madeira, HT), Neto, Danielson, Skolnik (Elizeu, 71), Todorovic, Andres Madrid, Diego Barcellos, Rondon, Candeias

Goals:
[0-1] Rondon, 36
[0-2] Candeias, 45
[1-2] Elias, 75
[2-2] Schaars, 95

by Tom Kundert