A Matheus Nunes goal in the 81st minute earns victory over SC Braga

Sporting Clube de Portugal overcame a stiff challenge on Matchday 29 of the Liga NOS season, beating SC Braga 0-1 despite playing for over 70 minutes with ten men. The only goal of the match was scored by second half substitute Matheus Nunes, 9 minutes from time.

The game was a meeting between the teams first and fourth in the league, held on a sodden pitch at the Estádio Municipal de Braga due to torrential rain in the warmup.
Coach Rúben Amorim, still suspended by the Portuguese football federation, changed two players in his starting XI: Zouhair Feddal and Nuno Santos came in for Matheus Reis and Tiago Tomás.

SC Braga started out as the slightly more offensive side, but the game quickly stabilised. Sporting CP enjoyed their usual possession game, building play through their centre backs, while the home side used high and aggressive pressure, as well as some dangerous crosses.

A Nuno Mendes delivery into the area caused problems for SC Braga, who cleared through defender Raul Silva, and a Pedro Porro corner flicked on by Paulinho was inches away from being turned in by Pedro Gonçalves.

For the hosts, Abel Ruiz went through on goal, with Antonio Adán smothering the threat. Castro would also strike wide soon after.

Sporting CP suffered a heavy blow in the 18th minute: Gonçalo Inácio, who had already been shown a yellow card after ten minutes, was booked for the second time, being sent off. With more than 70 minutes remaining, the team were reduced to ten men, and adjusted with Nuno Mendes switching to centre back and Nuno Santos occupying his place.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was Sporting CP who were strongest in front of goal immediately afterwards. Pedro Porro tried to surprise goalkeeper Matheus from distance, shooting wide.

However, as Sporting CP played deeper due to their lack of numbers, SC Braga began to attack more frequently. Fransérgio's header and Galeno's shot were both kept out by Adán, and Sebastián Coates was also very important in cutting out other opportunities.

The game went into halftime goalless, and Rúben Amorim made two reshuffles for Os Leões, taking off Nuno Santos and Paulinho for Luís Neto and Matheus Nunes -Nuno Mendes returning to his original position.

After a first 15 minutes without major incidents, Coates fell in the SC Braga box and appealed for a penalty kick, which was waved away. At the other end, Galeno's header was met with a magnificent intervention by Adán.

Tiago Tomás and Matheus Reis were introduced for Pedro Gonçalves and João Mário in further modifications, and after SC Braga threatened with an Al Musrati shot wide on 68 minutes, a Horta shot into the side netting and a Fransérgio drive that Adán saved, the game went into the final 10 minutes.

It was then that the key moment of the night arrived: Pedro Porro hit a direct free kick low to Matheus Nunes, unmarked on the right. The Sporting CP midfielder, inside the opposition area, shot hard at the near post and beat Matheus, breaking the deadlock.

From there, they resolutely defended SC Braga attempts to level, and held on through to the final whistle.

Sporting CP remain leaders of Liga NOS, and face CD Nacional on the next matchday of the season.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, João Mário (Matheus Reis, 64'), Nuno Mendes (Gonzalo Plata, 90+1'), Pedro Gonçalves (Tiago Tomás, 64'), Nuno Santos (Luís Neto, 45') and Paulinho (Matheus Nunes, 45').