Sporting made it two home wins out of two in the Champions League with a hard-fought victory against Marseille in an incident-packed match in the Portuguese capital tonight.
The slick French outfit, who came into the game on the back of a 5-match winning run including a victory over PSG, took the lead early on through a terrific Igor Paixão goal.
Just before half time Marseille were reduced to ten men when Emerson Palmieri was shown a second yellow card and it was a different game in the second half.
Sporting piled forward and were rewarded with goals by substitutes Geny Catamo and Alisson Santos to leave them well in contention for progress to the next phase of the competition. Tom Kundert reports from the José Alvalade stadium.
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The hosts started brightly, winning a free kick that Trincão fired over the bar, but Marseille soon showed their attacking prowess with Igor Paixão especially in evidence.
The speedy Paixão had already served notice of his danger with an audacious effort from 40 yards and a rocket of a shot that flew just wide but it proved third time lucky for the Brazilian winger in the 14th minute.
Paixão magic
Picking up the ball in the inside left channel after a well-worked Marseille passing sequence, he easily jinked past Fresneda and sent a superb curling effort into the far corner of the net.
The French outfit continued to look dangerous with their pacey forward line, Timothy Weah on the opposite flank matching Paixão for his electric pace that enabled him to get behind the Sporting defence and cause chaos, thankfully for the home side without practical consequences.
Sporting, in contrast, were looking blunt as an attacking unit, the only chance of note created by Luis Suárez when he dribbled into the box but could only direct his shot straight at goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
Emerson sees red
On the stroke of half time Sporting were given a fillip when Emerson Palmieri was sent off for a second yellow card. The referee initially signalled for a penalty when the Brazilian took a tumble in the box under an apparent challenge by Maxi Araújo, but VAR invited the official to review his decision and Marseille went from a golden chance to make it 2-0 to facing the prospect of having to play the second 45 minutes with ten men.
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi reorganised his team, bringing on Matt O’Riley and Michael Murillo for Arthur Vermeeren and Mason Greenwood, but Sporting smelt blood.
The Lions, roared on by the big crowd, attacked with far more conviction against an increasingly ragged Marseille side. Shortly before the hour Geovany Quenda darted into the box and tested Rulli, the goalkeeper making a sharp reaction save to push the shot onto the post and out for a corner.
Sporting coach Rui Borges made a double change in the 64th minute, bringing on Geny Catamo and Fotis Ioannidis for Quenda and João Simões.
The substitution proved inspired as Catamo latched onto a loose ball in the box and slotted the ball home. The goal was initially flagged for offside, but after a long VAR check it was validated and the crowd erupted in joy and turned up the volume level as they sensed Sporting could win the game.
Alisson brings the house down
Borges went all out for the win when he took off full-back Fresneda and brought on winger Alisson Santos, and just like his earlier switch, he was quickly rewarded. Santos teased his marker with his pace and dribbling as he cut into the area and fired towards goal.
The powerful shot was partially blocked by Pavard’s outstretched arm, but the ball bounced into the ground and capriciously looped over Rulli before nestling in the net.
The home fans were in ecstasy but Sporting still had to negotiate the final minutes and that task appeared more difficult when Maxi Araújo was shown a straight red card after an altercation with Pavard. Once again VAR came to Sporting’s rescue, the referee downgrading the red to a yellow upon review, and the hosts held on for the three precious points.
Sporting: Rui Silva, Iván Fresneda (Alisson Santos, 80’), Gonçalo Inácio, Zeno Debast (Ousmane Diomande, 80’), Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 90 + 3’), João Simões (Fotis Ioannidis, 64’), Morten Hjulmand, Geovany Quenda (Geny Catamo, 64’), Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves, Luis Suárez
Marseille: Gerónimo Rulli, Benjamin Pavard, Nayef Aguerd, Leonardo Balerdi, Timothy Weah (Ulisses Garcia, 67’), Arthur Vermeeren (Matt O’Riley, 46’), Pierre Hojbjerg, Emerson Palmieri, Mason Greenwood (Michael Murillo, 46’), Pierre Aubameyang (Robinio Vaz, 82’), Igor Paixão (Angel Gomes, 67’)
Goals:
[0-1] Igor Paixão, 14’
[1-1] Geny Catamo, 69’
[2-1] Alisson Santos, 86’
