Sporting 2-3 LASK: Sporting's perfect start spoiled by LASK first Champions League win
Sporting’s late fightback fell short as LASK secured a 3-2 victory, ending the hosts’ Champions League winning streak despite a late goal from Luis Suarez.
The Portuguese side will have felt unfortunate to have lost tonight match with clear cut opportunities and massively dominating with an xG of 3.16.
Sporting started strongly within the first few minutes. The Portuguese side pressed high into LASK’s six-yard box, threatening an opening goal.
LASK lost possession of the ball not far from the 18-yard mark, an opportunity that the hosts pounced upon.
A flurry of black-and-white jerseys in the box ultimately led to Robert Ljubicic conceding a penalty area foul.
After a brief VAR check, the penalty was awarded, and Suarez was the man to step up to the spot.
He struck home flawlessly, with a right-footed strike into the bottom left corner.
The play levelled out into a more back-and-forth rhythm from both sides, with the momentum beginning to shift between them.
LASK gained more possession and were able to drive the game back into Sporting’s penalty area.
They finally levelled the scoreline when Kasper Jorgensen crossed the ball to Christoph Lang in the centre of the box.
Lang sent a powerful shot to the bottom left corner, leaving Kaique Pereira no chance.
The Austrian was booked for the first yellow card of the match after a foul.
The 24-year-old tested Sporting’s backline in the final quarter of the first half.
He had two consecutive shots on target, both safely handled by Pereira.
Sascha Horvath is booked for the second yellow of the game for a foul.
With a minute of additional time, Lang’s foul awarded Nestory Irankunda a free kick on the right wing.
However, Irankunda’s attempt is parried and is also ruled off-side due to Maxi Arujo.
Just ten minutes into the second half, LASK’s Lukas Jungwirth comes down after a sweeping cross to the box when Suarez made an attempt.
The forward fouls Jungwirth, and the play is paused for a few minutes to assess the injury for both sides.
Jungwirth leaves the pitch despite his calls to continue playing and makes way for Tobias Schutzenauer.
Dietmar Kühbauer's side continued to pile the pressure on, winning a free kick on the right flank.
Xavier Mbuyamba soon forced a save from Pereira with a header from the centre of the box.
Sporting later won a free kick in their defensive half, but LASK continued to search for opportunities to double the lead.
LASK finally found their feet after exploiting a fast break to take the lead.
Sasa Kalajdzic nets the second goal in the 63rd minute, assisted by Robert Ljubicic, with a right-footed strike slotted into the bottom-left corner.
Issa Doumbia and Joao Simoes are both later booked yellows for fouls.
The guests scored a third just five minutes later from the second.
Krystof Danek’s shot from the right of the box found the back of the net, with an assist from Samuel Adeniran.
Sporting responded by pushing forward, with Fotis Ioannidis winning a free kick in the attacking half.
Suarez had a close-range attempt in the 89th minute, with a header from the centre of the box, saved by Schutzenauer. Jesse Derry’s header was then saved by the keeper.
Suarez eventually scored from a left-footed effort, reducing the deficit to one.
Despite seven minutes of added time, Sporting couldn’t find another, and their Champions League winning streak came to an end.
Sporting visit Shakhtar Donetsk, who are playing at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, in their next match on 3 November, while LASK host Slovan Bratislava on the same evening.
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