As has often been the case this calendar year, Sporting left it late to claim victory. A rare headed goal from substitute Daniel Bragança in the 82nd minute gave the Portuguese champions a 1-0 win over Famalicão at Alvalade.
Sporting came into the game without star striker Luis Suárez who was suspended and knowing only a win would do after title rivals Benfica and Porto had passed their difficult island assignments by collecting three points in the Azores and in Madeira respectively.
Fama threaten in first half
Famalicão are one of Portugal’s better teams and proved it tonight, especially in the first half. A stupendous long-range shot by Ibrahima Ba arrowed into the net, but the visitors’ celebrations were cut short when VAR ruled out the goal for a foul in the build-up on Maxi Araújo. Famalicão also missed a glaring opportunity to take the lead in the 34th minute when a mistake by the otherwise excellent Ousmane Diomande allowed Simon Elisor to race clean through on goal, but the French forward shot wide with just Rui Silva to beat.
Festival of missed opportunities by Sporting
Nevertheless, Sporting created plenty of chances of their own in the opening 45 minutes, Maxi Araújo, Francisco Trincão, the lively Luís Guilherme, Morten Hjulmand and Pedro Gonçalves all went close, and left-back Ricardo Mangas smacked a powerful shot onto the post.
In the second half Famalicão disappeared as an attacking force as a more aggressive Sporting snapped into tackles and anticipated interceptions with more vim, but the hosts did not create chances with as much regularity as in the first half.
With the clock ticking down, the breakthrough finally came via an unlikely route, the diminutive Bragança ghosting into position at the near post to expertly flick the ball into the net from a Trincão corner.
The standings remain unchanged at the top with Porto four points clear of Sporting at the summit, and Benfica three points behind their city rivals in third.
