The team draw 1-1 with SC Braga

Sporting Clube de Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by SC Braga in their latest Liga Portugal fixture, as a late equaliser from their opponents denied them all three points. Luis Suárez scored the Sporting CP goal in the game.

Before kickoff, several initiatives were made for Breast Cancer Awareness day, and Sporting CP wore a new white and pink kit to mark the occasion.

Rui Borges maintained the starting XI from the last match in the competition, against GD Estoril Praia. Just three minutes in, his side were already creating danger. On the left, Maxi Araújo combined with Francisco Trincão, and he in turn passed to Geovany Quenda. The young winger cut in from outside the box and unleashed a rocket from the perimeter, forcing goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek to make his first significant save of the match.

Sporting CP took control of possession, relying on speed on the wings and quick movements in position to try to surprise the opposition defence.

In the 19th minute, they found their breakthrough: Pedro Gonçalves received the ball on the left, near the halfway line, and raced wide, leaving defender Gustaf Lagerbielke behind. Once inside the box, the midfielder set up Luis Suárez, who fired in the opener -and his sixth goal in the competition.

Sporting CP could have doubled their lead shortly after with a swift counterattack that SC Braga's defence managed to stop. At the other end, João Moutinho responded with a mid-range shot, without troubling goalkeeper Rui Silva.

From there, the hosts only threatened Luka Hornicek again in stoppage time, when Gonçalves failed to finish off an excellent team move.

After the break, SC Braga came back out more aggressive, determined to turn the tide. In the 47th minute, Vítor Carvalho threatened after a free kick from Leonardo Lelo. In turn, Sporting CP’s Georgios Vagiannidis headed just wide, although SC Braga were in the ascendancy at that stage.

Lelo took control in the 54th minute, finding himself free in the six-yard box and forcing Rui Silva to make a monumental save.

Two minutes later, Sporting CP’s Hidemasa Morita appeared to be in a prime position to make it 2-0, but his shot failed to find the target.

Rui Borges reacted in the 64th minute with the introductions of Alisson Santos and Giorgi Kochorashvili. The changes had an immediate effect: the Georgian brought energy and, three minutes later, latched onto a loose ball to set up a shot, but the move ended up smothered in a crowd of bodies.

Twenty minutes from time, the game was being played at a high pace in both boxes. In this period, Rui Silva was once again decisive, tipping away a powerful shot from outside the box by Rodrigo Zalazar and keeping the narrow lead alive.

In the 74th minute, the Sporting CP coach made another change, bringing on Fotis Ioannidis. His team tried to hold the ball up and regain control in the box, with Kochorashvili becoming increasingly involved, but SC Braga maintained a tight block and reduced the chances to a minimum.

Shortly thereafter, Alisson Santos burst down the left, left an opposition player behind, and unleashed a long-range shot inches wide of the target.

Ioannidis emerged unmarked after a good run by Alisson Santos on the left, but he didn't arrive in time to turn a shot past Luka Hornicek.

With the game drawing to a close, Borges sought to breathe new life into the team, introducing Iván Fresneda and Geny Catamo. The Spanish fullback immediately made a strong run down the right, but his cross went straight into the hands of the SC Braga goalkeeper.

A cruel twist occurred deep into stoppage time: The visitors won a free kick on the right, and Bright Arrey-Mbi, after some confusion in the box, shot on goal. Rui Silva deflected the ball, but the refereeing team ruled that Morten Hjulmand had fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke previously, awarding a penalty.

Rodrigo Zalazar converted from the spot to restore parity.

Alisson Santos, alone in the middle of the box, shot over before the end, and Fotis Ioannidis, in the final move of the match, headed the ball into Hornicek's hands. A frustrating evening concluded 1-1, earning Sporting CP a solitary point.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Hidemasa Morita (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 64’), Zeno Debast, Geovany Quenda (Geny Catamo, 90’), Pedro Gonçalves, Giorgios Vagiannidis (Iván Fresneda, 90’), Francisco Trincão (Alisson Santos, 64’), Maxi Araújo, Gonçalo Inácio, Morten Hjulmand and Luis Suárez (Fotis Ioannidis, 73’).