Late Penalty Saves Sporting in Tied Classic Match

Morgan Winslow

Published: February 9, 2026 7:24 PM ET

Late Penalty Saves Sporting in Tied Classic Match

The Primeira Liga match between Sporting and FC Porto ended dramatically with a last-minute equalizer. In front of their home fans, Sporting faced off against FC Porto, hoping to secure a victory. The match is notable for a late penalty that saved Sporting in a hard-fought contest.

Match Overview

The game, held at Estádio do Dragão, kicked off at 20:45 amid concerns about fog. Initially, conditions were favorable for football. Both teams began with cautious attacks, resulting in a balanced match devoid of clear chances.

First Half Highlights

First half saw minimal scoring opportunities.
A potential chance came in the 47th minute when Maxi Araújo’s cross was nearly converted by Luís Suárez.

However, the match faced interruptions due to a thick fog, created by pyro techniques used by FC Porto supporters. Despite the disruption, the teams went into halftime with the score at 0-0.

Second Half Developments

The second half began with Sporting showing renewed vigor, intent on breaking the deadlock. FC Porto’s Pepê posed an early threat with a shot on goal in the 50th minute.

Sporting coach Farioli made key substitutions in the 60th minute, bringing on Seko Fofana, Rodrigo Mora, and Thiago Silva. These changes proved significant as FC Porto finally broke the deadlock with a goal from Fofana, who took advantage of defensive errors to score.

Last-Minute Drama

As the clock ticked towards the end of the match, Sporting found themselves behind but remained resilient. In a dramatic twist, a handball by Francisco Moura in stoppage time led to a penalty being awarded after a VAR review.

Luís Suárez stepped up to take the penalty.
His initial attempt was saved by Diogo Costa.
Suárez scored on the rebound, ensuring a 1-1 draw.

Current Standings

Following the match, FC Porto remains at the top of the table with 56 points. Sporting closely trails with 52 points, while Benfica is in pursuit with 49 points.

The late penalty that saved Sporting highlights the competitive nature of this season’s Primeira Liga. Fans eagerly await the next chapter in this tightly contested race for the title.