Lisbon’s late laser leaves Donetsk in the dark

Sporting turned a dour night in Lisbon into a showcase of composure, slipping a solitary strike past Shakhtar’s back‑line in the dying minutes of a Champions League group clash. The Ukrainian side spent 90 minutes chasing shadows, only to watch the ball curl past their keeper from a dead‑ball routine that left the home crowd chanting “gol!” while the visitors were left to count the cost.

The dead‑ball came from a well‑timed corner on 84 minutes. João Palhinha rose above the chaos, flicking the ball to the edge of the six‑yard box where Pedro Gonçalves, ever the poacher, tucked it low into the bottom corner. It was a textbook finish, and it was enough to turn the tide. Until then, Shakhtar’s defense, marshalled by veteran Taras Stepanenko, looked more like a wall of pretenders than a fortress, allowing Sporting to dominate possession (58% to 42%) and create twice as many chances.

Shakivar’s midfield never found a rhythm. Maycon, who had been the engine in previous outings, seemed to run on fumes, his passing accuracy dipping below 70% and his defensive duels lost in the last third. The only bright spot for the Ukrainians was the tireless work of goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, who kept a clean sheet despite a barrage of shots from the Portuguese side. Still, a single save in the 71st minute could not compensate for the defensive lapses that gifted Sporting the set‑piece they needed.

For Sporting, the night belonged to the man between the sticks, Antonio Adán, who made three crucial interventions, the most important of which came just after the goal to deny a counter‑attack. His calm under pressure earned him a well‑deserved rating above the midfield trio that supplied the assist.

The three points catapult Sporting into a more comfortable position in the group, tightening the race for the knockout slots and forcing Shakhtar into a must‑win scenario for their final game. One slip and the Ukrainian side could find themselves fighting for a last‑16 berth against a backdrop of dwindling confidence.

Player Ratings

• Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting) – 8.5
• Antonio Adán (Sporting) – 7.5
• Andriy Pyatov (Shakhtar) – 7.0
• João Palhinha (Sporting) – 7.0
• Maycon (Shakhtar) – 6.5