​A 4-2 defeat defeat to Ajax allows several players to debut in the Champions League

A youthful Sporting Clube de Portugal side lost in the team's final Champions League group stage game, played against AFC Ajax in front of an empty Johan Cruijff Arena. The 4-2 result was of little consequence, with Sporting CP already through to the knockout stages of the competition.

Coach Rúben Amorim took the opportunity to give minutes to players who had featured less frequently so far this season, fielding the club's youngest ever Champions League starting lineup.  João Virgínia, Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Esteves, Daniel Bragança, Manuel Ugarte, Ricardo Esgaio, Nuno Santos, Tiago Tomás and Bruno Tabata had an average age of 23.95 years. Ajax, in contrast, made just two changes from the first game between the two teams.

AFC Ajax took the lead eight minutes into the game, from the penalty spot. Daniel Bragança fouled Sébastien Haller in the area, VAR intervened and Italian referee Davide Massa awarded the penalty, which Haller himself put past João Virgínia.

Sporting CP responded minutes later, as Gonçalo Esteves -the club's youngest ever Champions League starter, at 17 years and 283 days -, set up Bruno Tabata and the latter shot over the crossbar.

Opportunities followed for both sides, with AFC Ajax creating greater danger in the area, but Sporting CP would find an equaliser: Bruno Tabata spotted Nuno Santos on the edge of the area, crossed from the left and the No.11 struck out of the reach of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

At the start of the last five minutes of the first-half, João Virgínia made two saves, but was unable to keep out a shot that had fallen at the feet of Ajax's Antony.

With Ajax 2-1 up, the second half started with fewer chances. It was not until 60 minutes that the next goal was scored, and it went to the home team. Nuno Santos slipped up, Perr Schuurs recovered the ball and ran to the edge of the area, and crossed for David Neres to finish.

Amorim soon made two substitutions, with Nuno Santos and Tiago Tomás making way for Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho.

Sporting CP would concede a fourth goal when Steven Berghius received the ball on the right, taking Ricardo Esgaio out of the equation and shooting inside the far post.

The second half subs came back with a good opportunity: A combination between Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho, who shot low for a save by Remko Pasveer.

Pablo Sarabia and Flávio Nazinho were introduced in further changes, and on 78 minutes Sarabia began a goalscoring move, running up the right, laying off to Ricardo Esgaio for him to cross. Paulinho flicked on and Bruno Tabata made it 4-2.

Dário Essugo came on after 82 minutes, breaking Gonçalo Esteves' records for both the youngest ever Sporting CP player to feature in the Champions League and also the youngest Portuguese ever to do it - at 16 years and 268 days old.

A 4-2 defeat closed the Champions League Group Stage, with Sporting CP finishing with a total of three wins and three defeats, second in Group C with nine points, 14 goals scored (a club record) and 12 conceded.