Tottenham Hotspur suffered a surprise defeat against Sporting Lisbon after two late goals by Paulinho and Gomes secured a win for the Portuguese giants. The win shot Sporting Lisbon to the top of the group with six points, while Tottenham slumps to second place with three points after two matches.
Sporting XI: Adán; Gonçalo Inácio, Coates, Matheus Reis; Pedro Porro, Ugarte, Morita, Nuno Santos; Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves, Trincão
Tottenham XI: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson Royal, Bentancur, Højbjerg, Perišić; Richarlison, Son, Kane.
A dramatic stoppage-time double by Sporting Lisbon saw a star-studded Tottenham fall to a 2-0 defeat in the Champions League matchday two clash. Tottenham dominated the game until Paulinho, and Arthur Gomes’s late-minute strikes humbled the Premier League side.
It was a less eventful first half as both sides failed to create a clear chance throughout the 45 minutes of play. Tottenham dominated the game but were less clinical in the final third.
Richarlison found the back of the net, thinking that he had given Spurs the lead, but it was ruled offside, leaving the game barren.
The host would have swung into a surprise lead when Tottenham’s former Academy player, Marcus Edwards, pulled a moment of brilliance with the ball.
The 23-year-old youngster took a solo run down the halfway line and pushed through the Tottenham midfield. After tricking out Tottenham and firing from close range on the goal, Hugo Lloris ensured it was kept out.
Spurs maintained dominance in the second half of the game and tried to come out stronger in an attempt to take the lead.
Their all-attacking tactics, which called both wing backs into action, left the team vulnerable when Sporting Lisbon launched counter-attacks. The Portuguese side were more menacing and dangerous as they charged forward.
The game droned on as both sides could not get a goal but approached the match with higher intensity.
Tottenham had nearly bagged one point on the road as the game entered the 90th minute before drama set in. They had conceded a corner-kick in the 90th minute, and the hosts took it as an unmarked Paulinho headed home in the 90th minute to give the home side the lead.
Shocked by the stoppage-time lead, Antonio Conte whipped the team forward in an attempt to find an equaliser. It was a futile attempt against a solid Sporting backline.
The match had almost ended when Gomes pulled another surprise goal to make it 2-0 for the host. Gomes’s last goal exposed a rickety and vulnerable Tottenham defense. Gomes maneuvered his way through Tottenham’s backline and beat Hugo Lloris to get a second goal.
The game ended with Sporting Lisbon grabbing their second consecutive Champions League win to emerge top of Group D as Tottenham fell to the second position.
The other group match saw French Ligue1 side Olympique Marseille lose 1-0 at home to 2021 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Watch Spotlights of The Two Late-goals below:
