Os Leões push hard but fail to find a late winner

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 1-1 away to AVS Futebol SAD on Liga Portugal Matchday 31, putting a dent in their title chances. A Rafael Nel goal was cancelled out by an equaliser from the penalty spot.

Rui Borges fielded a team with six changes for the trip to Vila das Aves, with Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand, Geny Catamo and Luis Suárez being replaced by Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Ricardo Mangas, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Pedro Gonçalves and Rafael Nel.

Sporting CP started at full throttle and, just 6 minutes in, after a corner from the right taken by Pedro Gonçalves, Zeno Debast had a shot that forced a good save from goalkeeper Adriel. This was followed by a pacy run from Geovany Quenda and an attack from Ricardo Mangas, who tried to set up a teammate but had his delivery cleared.

Georgios Vagiannidis came close to scoring, shooting wide in the 10th minute. Three minutes later, Hidemasa Morita found Gonçalves in the area, and his drive required another save from Adriel. Rafael Nel also enjoyed a chance in the early stages.

Sporting CP were dominating, and AVS Futebol SAD were completely on the back foot. However, the visitors managed to react with a dangerous cross from Mateus Pivô that ended up in Rui Silva's hands in the six-yard box. Shortly after, Diego Duarte advanced in determined fashion, but Diomande made a brilliant interception.

At the other end, Sporting CP launched another counterattack to play Nel through, but Adriel managed to beat him to the ball. In response, Pedro Lima shot from distance over the crossbar.

On 36 minutes, from a well-executed free kick, the ball fell to Francisco Trincão, who lacked accuracy to finish off the move. Guilherme Neiva, in the AVS Futebol SAD attack, obliged Rui Silva into a save shortly after.

Quenda's hit a strike into the side netting before halftime, and what seemed like a foul on Rafael Nel in the AVS Futebol SAD area was not given as a penalty, leaving the score at 0-0.

The deadlock was broken in the second minute of the second half. Vagiannidis advanced down the right and crossed into the middle of the area, where Devenish tried to clear but sent the ball towards his own net. Nel managed to get a touch on it before the ball completely crossed the line, giving him his third goal of the season.

The lead could have been doubled almost immediately, but Gonçalves' curling shot from outside the area hit the post.

Before the hour, Rui Borges replaced Quenda and Nel with Geny Catamo and Luis Suárez, and Sporting CP had two consecutive opportunities: Within seconds, Adriel denied both Morita and Kochorashvili with two great saves.

There was, however, a setback for Sporting CP: From another VAR review, referee Pedro Ramalho awarded a penalty against Sporting CP. Pedro Lima converted to make it 1-1.

After a free kick from the left, headed by Diomande into Adriel's hands, Gonçalves and Mangas were substituted to bring on Luís Guilherme and Maxi Araújo, with just over a quarter of an hour remaining.

In one of AVS Futebol SAD's rare attacks, Diego Duarte gave Rui Silva work to do.  That was followed by, in 76th minute, a Zeno Debast cross that Catamo headed. Adriel made another save to keep out the effort.

The visiting goalkeeper made another intervention to deny Guilherme, whilst on the break it was up to Rui Silva to gather Tunde Akinsola's shot.

In the 82nd minute, an unbelievable series of actions saw a  shot by Araújo saved by Adriel, a second attempt by the Uruguayan hitting a defender, and the third going to Catamo, who sent the ball against the post.

For the final moments, Giorgi Kochorashvili came off and Daniel Bragança came on.

Before the final whistle, Luis Suárez shot wide and AVS Futebol SAD had a great opportunity that saw Oscar Perea hit the post. Morita had a chance to win it late, as did Suárez -who was denied by Adriel in a tremendous save. The game concluded 1-1.

Sporting CP will now host CD Tondela on Wednesday, April 29th, in a postponed match from earlier in the season.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Georgios Vagiannidis, Ousmane Diomande, Zeno Debast, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 73'), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Daniel Bragança, 84'), Hidemasa Morita, Geovany Quenda (Geny Catamo, 56'), Francisco Trincão [C], Pedro Gonçalves (Luís Guilherme, 73') and Rafael Nel (Luis Suárez, 56').