UCL: Sporting Lisbon stun Spurs at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Tottenham were stunned by Sporting Lisbon as two late goals condemned Antonio Conte’s side to a 2-0 defeat in their Champions League Group D clash at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The game appeared to be heading for a stalemate before Sporting substitute Paulinho headed a Pedro Goncalves corner past Hugo Lloris in the final minute of normal time.
The hosts then wrapped up the points in stoppage time when Arthur Gomes, another substitute, cut in from the left and breezed past Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal before slotting a low finish into the corner.
Spurs, back in action after the weekend’s Premier League postponements following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, were a long way below their best on the night, struggling to create clear chances and unable to contain Sporting’s counter-attacking threat.
It seemed they would at least take a point back to north London, but in the end their lacklustre performance was punished as Sporting celebrated a win which keeps them top of Group D – and leaves Conte’s men with catching up to do on their Champions League return.
After a period of silence in tribute to The Queen before kick-off, Sporting were soon showing their counter-attacking potency, pouncing on Spurs errors repeatedly, with Pedro Goncalves forcing a low save from a full-stretch Lloris in the early stages.
Ben Davies came in for Clement Lenglet as Spurs made only one change from their 2-0 win over Marseille last week.
Sporting named former Tottenham youth player Marcus Edwards in their starting line-up following a goalscoring performance against Eintracht Frankfurt.
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That opportunity was created by Marcus Edwards and the former Tottenham youngster continued to cause problems for his old side, most notably when he embarked on a mesmerising dribble shortly before the break, dancing through a crowd of Spurs players and exchanging passes with Trincao before releasing a toe-poked shot which squirmed past the post off Lloris.
Spurs, by contrast, were sloppy and sluggish in possession, their first-half performance summed up by the sight of Richarlison, their two-goal hero against Marseille last week, being repeatedly caught offside.