Harder and Trincão score for Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 2-2 against FC Arouca in their 22nd game of the Liga Portugal season.

Coach Rui Borges made changes to his initial XI, the most notable being Viktor Gyökeres' starting role.

Sporting CP started with Rui Silva in goal, Iván Fresneda, Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio and Maxi Araújo in defence, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand and João Simões in midfield and a forward line of Francisco Trincão, Gyökeres and Geovany Quenda.

As expected, Os Leões took control of the game but in less than 15 minutes a series of setbacks put them in difficulty.

St. Juste played a ball almost from midfield to Rui Silva, and the goalkeeper’s attempt to control was unsuccessful, as it went into the net and put FC Arouca in front.

The Dutch defender went off injured afterwards, with Bragança also coming off with discomfort. Zeno Debast and Conrad Harder took their places.

The initial equaliser came when Trincão won the ball from Henrique Araújo and passed it to Gyökeres, who knocked it on for Harder to enter the area and send the shot in to make it 1-1.

Gyökeres was then denied on two occasions by goalkeeper Nico Mantl, and Morten Hjulmand, off a corner, headed wide. FC Arouca tested the woodwork and then forced Rui Silva to make a good save in response.

Sporting CP immediately made a quick counterattack, and Quenda entered the area off it before Nico Mantl again got the better of the duel.

During stoppage time at the end of the first half, FC Arouca made it 1-2, as referee Miguel Nogueira considered that Morten Hjulmand had fouled an opponent in the box and awarded a penalty -dispatched by Henrique Araújo.

Although Sporting CP had further efforts before the break, they went into the interval at a deficit.

The second half began with Sporting CP pressing high and creating danger close to Nico Mantl's goal. As a result, Maxi Araújo was caught for a free kick on the edge of the area, which Trincão struck against the wall.

Quenda received from Viktor Gyökeres and aimed an effort towards the far post, but a defender managed to cut it out.

A series of corners followed, and in the first 10 minutes FC Arouca were put under siege, only breaking out on the counter to require the intervention of Rui Silva.

Another blow was suffered with the expulsion of Morten Hjulmand for a second yellow card, as Sporting CP were reduced to ten men with half an hour to play. The task became more and more difficult, as FC Arouca wasted time whenever possible.

In the 75th minute, Harder held the ball on the left, with Trincão appearing and shooting to make it 2-2.

With five minutes to go, Rui Borges brought on Biel and debutant Alexandro Brito, taking Iván Fresneda and João Simões off.

Harder and Gyökeres both missed late chances to grab a winner, whilst Rui Silva saved with his foot in the closing moments. Biel shot over the crossbar with the last attempt of the game, and the score remained 2-2 at the final whistle.

Os Leões will be back in action on Wednesday in Germany, against BV Borussia 09 Dortmund in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff.