Last-gasp Danny Namaso equaliser denies Sporting victory at the Dragão | OneFootball

FC Porto 1-1 Sporting

After repelling Porto pressure for the entire second half, Sporting succumbed to a 94th-minute equaliser at the Estádio do Dragão scored by Danny Namaso.

Iván Fresneda had given Sporting a first-half lead after brilliant wing play by Geovany Quenda and the Lions looked fairly comfortable defending their lead but could not see out the win.

The visitors lost their disciple in the final seconds, Matheus Reis and Ousmane Diomande both shown a red card in a chaotic end to the match, the upshot of which sees the 8-point gap between the two teams remain unchanged. Tom Kundert reports from the Estádio do Dragão.

Key protagonists missing

With centre-back Otávio suspended Porto coach Martín Anselmi brough Zé Pedro into the line-up. For Sporting Viktor Gyökeres and Hidemasa Morita started on the bench as they continue to struggle for fitness.

Sporting were the first to threaten, captain Morten Hjulmand getting his head to a corner with Diogo Costa making a comfortable save.

The Lisbon club’s never-ending list of injuries grew even longer midway through the first half after João Simões was unable to shake off a knock he picked up in a tangle with Stephen Eustáquio and had to be replaced by Zeno Debast.

Eustáquio rattles the bar

There was a distinct lack of goalmouth action in a cagey match but that changed in the 28th minute when a loose pass by Gonçalo Inácio was intercepted by Samu, the ball quickly passed by Rodrigo Mora to Eustáquio whose angled shot from inside the box smashed against the crossbar.

Porto’s fans raised the noise level and Samu almost brought the house down moments later when an audacious effort from inside his own half had Rui Silva scurrying back in a panic but the ball just cleared the crossbar.

Samu and Trincão shot wide at either end of the pitch, before a miscued Eustáquio cross looped dangerously over the Sporting goalframe.

Geovany magic

As half time approached Sporting enjoyed a good spell of possession and were rewarded with the breakthrough. It was all down to 17-year-old sensation Geovany Quenda who showcased his brilliant dribbling skills to leave João Mário and Zé Pedro in his wake and cross low into the box. Bragança completely missed his shot but the ball fell to Fresneda who smacked the ball into the roof of the net with the aid of a deflection off Francisco Moura.

The Spanish full-back had never scored in his career before last week’s strike against Farense but has now netted in successive games. Half time Porto 0-1 Sporting.

Porto started the second half in determined fashion, hogging possession and restricting Sporting to their defensive half of the pitch, but were unable to carve out chances.

After weathering the storm, it was visitors who threatened twice in quick succession through Conrad Harder, the young striker first firing over the bar from a tight angle after fantastic work by Maxi Araújo to create the chance, then the Dane connecting well with an acrobatic effort from a corner but his flying volley flew just wide.

Offside flag thwarts Porto

Porto thought they had equalised on the hour mark, Tiago Djaló latching onto Samu’s header and bundling the ball into the net but the centre-back was offside.

Anselmi made the first of what would be a series of attacking substitutions when he brought on attacking midfielder Fábio Vieira for centre-back Nehuén Pérez.

The Dragons came close to scoring soon afterwards as the lively João Mário sent over an inviting cross that Pepê met with a header on the run, forcing Rui Silva into a diving save.

Anselmo continued to take risks, bringing on winger Borges for left-back Moura, and the Sporting coach responded by bringing on the big guns Morita and Gyökeres for Bragança and Harder.

Gyökeres had an immediate impact, playing a cross-field pass into the path of Quenda, but the youngster lacked composure and blazed his effort over the bar.

All the meat on the barbecue

Anselmo’s all-out attacking gameplan went into overdrive as new signing William Gomes and Danny Namaso came on, meaning Porto were now playing with SEVEN attacking players: Gomes, Namaso, Vieira, Mora, Samu, Pepê and Borges!

Despite his young age and lack of experience, Mora was Porto’s most dangerous player all night and the 17-year-old almost scored a wonder goal in the 79th minute, weaving his way through a series of tackles before seeing his shot deflected for a corner.

As the clock ticked down Sporting appeared to have stemmed Porto’s attacking impetus and from a counterattack Gyökeres worked a chance for himself to kill the game but shot straight at Diogo Costa.

Porto pressure finally tells

Just when it seemed Sporting would beat Porto at the Dragão for the first time in almost a decade the home team equalised with a well-worked goal. Fábio Vieira dinked a delicious cross behind the Sporting defence, Samu did well to stretch and cross low for Namaso to tap in from close range.

Virtually from the kick-off Sporting broke away, Quenda hurtling towards goal and tackled as he was about to shoot by Zé Pedro, with the challenge immediately eliciting loud shouts for a penalty from the away team.

Double red for Sporting

Matheus Reis took his protests too far, the defender sent off for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, and worse was to come for the Lions.

The referee meanwhile got word from VAR that it was not a penalty and pointed for a corner, and in the subsequent jostling in the box Diomande got into an altercation with Fábio Vieira and was shown a straight red card. The big centre-back was unwise leaning his head into Vieira’s although the Arsenal midfielder did not cover himself with glory with a comical collapse to the ground.

The corner came to nothing and the referee blew for full time with honours even.

The next Portuguese superstars in the making

The controversial ending to the match will make the headlines, but although chaos and red cards are all too common in the biggest matches in Portugal, tonight’s match should be remembered for the sparkling displays by two enormous talents who – provided they remain injury free – are surely destined to become worldwide football superstars. It is remarkable to think Rodrigo Mora and Geovany Quenda are still 17-year-olds.

FC Porto: Diogo Costa, Tiago Djaló, Nehuén Pérez (Fábio Vieira, 62’), Zé Pedro, João Mário (William Gomes, 78’), Alan Varela (Danny Namaso, 78’), Stephen Eustáquio, Francisco Moura (Gonçalo Borges, 68’), Samu Aghehowa, Rodrigo Mora