A late equaliser denies Sporting CP a perfect record on Matchday 4

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 1-1 against SC Braga on Liga Portugal Matchday 4, in a game played at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.

Rúben Amorim's starting lineup consisted of Antonio Adán, Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Hidemasa Morita, Morten Hjulmand, Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves, Viktor Gyökeres and Paulinho.

Looking for their fourth victory in four games at the start of the campaign, Sporting CP began the game well, with the left wing a source of particular danger with Nuno Santos and Viktor Gyökeres arriving in the area. After six minutes the Swede appeared in a good position, but a delayed pass did not go find the right spot when Ricardo Esgaio was already lining up a shot.

Despite Sporting CP being the more expansive of the two sides, it ended up being SC Braga who came closest to scoring first, with a shot by Ricardo Horta which forced Antonio Adán to parry out in the 13th minute. Shortly after, Abel Ruiz had an opportunity, but Sporting CP captain Sebastián Coates intercepted the ball.

The response didn't take long in coming, and from a good collective play they managed to score. Pedro Gonçalves received a pass from Ousmane Diomande and, from the edge of the area, shot past Matheus to make it 0-1.

Not even five minutes later, Gyökeres nearly doubled the lead, but his header went wide.

Sporting CP had the ball in the net again through Morten Hjulmand, with a low shot from the middle, but referee Luís Godinho disallowed the strike for offside against Gonçalves and Paulinho.

Amorim immediately made a substitution at the beginning of the second half, introducing Marcus Edwards and taking Paulinho off.

The second half started identically to the first and with SC Braga trying to pull level, but without creating much danger. Gyökeres had a chance after receiving from Edwards, entering the area to shoot across the face of goal, and then Ricardo Esgaio followed up with another shot from the right.

A double substitution on the hour mark had Nuno Santos and Hjulmand replaced by Geny Catamo and Daniel Bragança, and ten minutes later Gonçalves was withdrawn for Francisco Trincão.

Going into the final ten minutes, SC Braga won a free kick on the edge of the area and managed to find an equaliser through Álvaro Djaló, leading to a desperate search for a winner.

Iván Fresneda came on to make his debut, having arrived at Sporting CP at the beginning of the week, but there was no change in the scoreline before the end.

Sporting CP and SC Braga played out a 1-1 draw going into the international break, and Os Leões now find themselves joint top of the Liga Portugal table -level on points with FC Porto and Boavista FC.

Their next game is scheduled for September 17th, in Alvalade, against Moreirense FC.