A late penalty sees the game end 2-1

On their return to Liga Portugal action, Sporting Clube de Portugal lost 2-1 away to Boavista FC on Matchday 7. A late penalty kick by the home team put an end to the reaction from Rúben Amorim's side, who came away empty handed from the game.

Up against a side who began the weekend in fourth place and off two consecutive victories in the league, Amorim repeated the same starting XI that had beaten Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League in midweek.

Sporting CP dominated the first ten minutes, and a first warning was fired wide by Nuno Santos, as well as Pedro Gonçalves having two attempts blocked by opposition defenders.

Shortly after, Boavista also threatened, but forward Bozeník's shot was sent away by Antonio Adán.

Mobility and talent in the frontline provided chances for Sporting CP, as well as Santos' runs up the left flank. Os Leões had the ball in the net, through Gonçalves, but it would be disallowed by VAR for an offside by Marcus Edwards.

The match levelled out before the interval, as Boavista FC enjoyed another chance for Bozeník, who hit the post in the 29th minute. Francisco Trincao responded, with his shot clanging against the crossbar.

Just when it seemed that the game would go into halftime 0-0, Bruno Lourenço gave Boavista the lead, as Sporting CP conceded for the first time in five games.

Sporting CP were forced to react, and that was the case from the first minute of the second half. Nuno Santos was again very active and dangerous, especially with his crosses. On the other flank, Pedro Porro also got into the opposition area and shot hard, but not even a slight deflection could catch out goalkeeper César.

The equaliser arrived ten minutes after the restart, as Santos crossed perfectly for a well-placed header from Edwards – the Englishman's third goal in the league this term.

In the 70th minute, however, the team suffered another setback, with Amorim forced to replace Coates with Ricardo Esgaio due to an injury. The home side became more solid defensively, while Sporting CP accumulated mistakes in attack. Their coach decided to refresh the frontline: Paulinho and Arthur Gomes came in to replace Trincão and Nuno Santos.

However, off one of Boavista's  rare attacks in the second half, Martim Tavares fell in the area and Bruno Lourenço converted the penalty to make it 2-1. The 83rd minute goal, against the run of play, ended Sporting CP's response and condemned them to defeat.

After the international break, Sporting CP host Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Pedro Porro, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C] (Ricardo Esgaio 71'), Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos (Arthur Gomes 75'), Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita (Rochinha 87'), Francisco Trincao (Paulinho 75'), Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards.