In a thrilling encounter at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade on Monday, Sporting CP and Braga shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw that featured late drama, smoke delays, and a red card.
Sporting CP took an early lead when Viktor Gyökeres curled a stunning free kick into the net in the 15th minute, igniting the home crowd. Despite dominating possession, the hosts couldn’t extend their lead before halftime.
Braga, entering the match on a three-game winning streak, nearly equalized in the 64th minute during a chaotic scramble in front of goal, but Sporting’s defense held firm. The intensity ramped up as both teams searched for crucial points in the title race.
The match was briefly halted with 12 minutes remaining as smoke from flares lit by fans enveloped the stadium, causing visibility issues on the pitch. Once play resumed, Braga capitalized on the momentum shift.
In the 87th minute, Rodrigo Zalazar delivered a precise cross to Alonso Cruz Patrão, who rose above the defense to head the ball into the top left corner, leveling the score and silencing the home supporters.
Tempers flared in stoppage time when João Moutinho received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, reducing Sporting CP to ten men. Braga pressed forward but couldn’t find a winner.
The draw sees Sporting CP drop to second place in the Liga Portugal standings with 66 points, now trailing leaders Benfica by two points after Benfica’s impressive 4-1 victory over Porto. Braga remains third, keeping their hopes alive in a tightly contested title race.
The result sets up an exciting run-in for the season’s finale, with the top teams battling for supremacy in Portuguese football.
