A sublime Suárez stoppage time backheel provides a deserved 2-1 triumph

Sporting Clube de Portugal used a last-gasp winner to beat CD Nacional 2-1 in Liga Portugal, as Luis Suárez backheeled home in stoppage time to claim all three points.

A stormy series of days in Portugal continued during the Sunday fixture, making it an uncomfortable game at the Estádio José Alvalade.

The contest came just days after the historic win for Sporting CP against Athletic Club in the Champions League, and coach Rui Borges made four changes to the starting XI, bringing in Eduardo Quaresma, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, and Luís Guilherme.

Before the opening whistle, there was a heartfelt tribute to club legend Fernando Mamede, who received a standing ovation from the 39,984 Sportingistas present.

There were few clear-cut chances early on, with the first solid opportunity coming in the 12th minute and going to the visitors. After a loss of possession in midfield, CD Nacional approached the area and Gabriel Veron aimed towards goal, with Rui Silva already on the ground. Geny Catamo raced in to clear the ball away from close range.

Sporting CP experienced difficulties in linking together passes and overcoming the well-organised CD Nacional back line.Luis Suárez was the first to attempt to break through the blockade: In the 24th minute, the Colombian responded well to meet a cross from Iván Fresneda, but the striker's header went wide of goal.

Half an hour in, following a free kick on the right side of the field, Ousmane Diomande went down in the penalty area. After a lengthy VAR review, the officials did not consider the incident to be worthy of a spot kick.

In the 36th minute, João Simões shot straight at goalkeeper Kaique and, moments later, a good combination between Guilherme and Suárez broke down inside the area.

Less than five minutes before halftime, it was Pedro Gonçalves' turn to try, and he gained space in a dangerous spot and tried his luck, needing a save from the visiting goalkeeper.

The best opportunity of the first half, however, was saved for last: In stoppage time, Suárez went through on Kaique and shot, forcing an excellent save.

Sporting CP came back out with renewed energy for the second half, adding more speed to a game in which the weather conditions were considerably worsening.

Maxi Araújo's tame shot was followed up by a sequence of two attempts blocked by the defence, as Sporting CP began to take control.

In the 55th minute, after a foul on Catamo, Araújo's firm hit tested Kaique's attentiveness once more.

Seeking new solutions, Rui Borges brought on Francisco Trincão and new signing Souleymane Faye in the 64th minute.

From their first dangerous attack of the entire second half, CD Nacional launched a swift counter down the left and José Gomes pressured Rui Silva into a good save.

The response was the opening goal of the contest, as Trincão sprinted into the area on the right and shot low. Kaique saved, but Pedro Gonçalves reacted incredibly quickly to turn in the rebound. It was his 10th league goal of the season and his 100th career goal.

However, the joy was short-lived. On 77 minutes, CD Nacional equalised from a move very similar to the Sporting CP goal: Gabriel Veron shot, Rui Silva parried the ball and it fell to Alan Nuñez, who only needed to tap it into the net.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Borges made another double substitution, bringing on Alisson Santos and Giorgi Kochorashvili in place of Gonçalves and Catamo.

Trincão had a good chance to make it 2-1, but the ball got caught up in traffic, whilst on 88 minutes Suárez had a goal disallowed for offside.

Alvalade would celebrate a goal from the Colombian, and it came in stoppage time: In the 96th minute, Eduardo Quaresma recovered the ball in the opponent's half, found Alisson Santos on the left, and the Brazilian crossed for a clever backheel flick by Suárez, taking the score to 2-1 and clinching the three points.

Sporting CP play at home next Thursday at 8:45pm, in a Taça de Portugal quarter-final match against AFS.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves (Alisson Santos, 80’), Geny Catamo (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 80’), Maxi Araújo, Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Luís Guilherme (Souleymane Faye, 64’), João Simões (Francisco Trincão, 64’), Eduardo Quaresma [C], and Luis Suárez.