sporting blow group g open with schalke win published: wednesday 5 november 2014, 23.01cet sporting clube de portugal 4-2 fc schalke 04 ıslam slimani scored at both ends as the portuguese side revived their last-16 aspirations with a hard-fought win.
• sporting move to within a point of second-placed schalke in group g • jefferson ends his seven-month wait for a goal with a fine strike • naby sarr makes it 1-1 with his first goal for sporting • ıslam slimani scores at both ends for the portuguese side • next games: sporting v maribor, schalke v chelsea (25 november)
sporting clube de portugal got themselves back into the hunt in group g as they came from behind to beat fc schalke 04 4-2.
schalke, 4-3 victors when the sides met in germany a fortnight ago, forged ahead when ıslam slimani put through his own net but sporting's reaction was exceptional. they quickly levelled through naby sarr and from then on marco silva's defensive purpose and attacking verve saw them through. a lovely jefferson strike soon after the restart put them ahead and nani effectively sealed it midway through the half before a late goal apiece.
the win moves sporting off the foot of the section and right into contention for a place in the uefa champions league knockout stages. they had to come from behind though after slimani, under pressure from eric maxim choupo-moting, headed in dennis aogo's excellent free-kick on 17 minutes.
sporting replied with a set piece of their own, jefferson swinging the ball in from the right and naby sarr pipped team-mate slimani to the ball, glancing a header past ralf fährmann. ıf jefferson had shown his technique with the assist, he surpassed himself seven minutes after the restart with a marvellous low, swerving shot that went in off the post following nani's pass.
sporting sealed it 18 minute from time when substitute andré carrillo used his fresh legs to good effect, knocking the ball past christian fuchs and delivering a low cross for the outstanding nani to turn in. aogo caused a few jitters among the hosts when he made it 3-2 late on with only schalke's second shot on target all night, but as the visitors committed men forward, sporting capitalised. slimani raced clear and coolly kept his nerve to beat fährmann.
