Sporting CP share the points in a 1-1 draw with FC Porto

On the brink of a win in O Clássico, Sporting Clube de Portugal had to settle for a 1-1 draw with FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão, as Iván Fresneda's first half strike was cancelled out by a stoppage time goal for the home side.

FC Porto had not won in four league games coming into the contest, and were still in search of a new identity under new coach Martín Anselmi. Sporting CP' Rui Borges made just one change to his lineup, as João Simões replaced the injured Geny Catamo. Both Hidemasa Morita and Viktor Gyökeres were back available on the bench, accompanied by new signing Biel Teixeira.

Sporting CP gave a first warning in the first three minutes, with a header from Morten Hjulmand at Diogo Costa off the opening corner of the game.

After Daniel Bragança put a ball across the face of goal, Rui Borges' team suffered yet another setback: Simões went off injured in the 23rd minute, with Zeno Debast coming on.

A mistake with the ball from Sporting CP could have had dire consequences, but the post denied Stephen Eustáquio a goal. FC Porto gained confidence, and an immediate attempt from distance by Samu hit the top netting.

In response, Trincão pulled in from the right and, from outside the area, shot low and wide. Dominance continued for Sporting CP, but there was still a lack of definition in the final third to cause real damage.

It was then that Geovany Quenda made a brilliant move to put his side ahead. He took his first opponent out of the way with class, went at the next one and overtook him at high speed, then inside the area, crossed to the feet of Iván Fresneda for the Spaniard to finish off just before the break. It was Fresneda's second goal in as many Liga Portugal games.

For the second half, FC Porto came out more aggressive, but the best opportunities belonged to Sporting CP. Totally surrounded, Maxi Araújo found his way out of a tight spot and released to Conrad Harder, who shot off target. Shortly afterwards, the centre forward tried his luck with a bicycle kick from a corner -again just wide.

From a dead ball, FC Porto found the net, but Tiago Djaló, who had put in the header, was offside. That was followed up by a Pepê header that Rui Silva countered with a great save.

With the home team taking greater risks and moving closer and closer to the area, Rui Borges brought on Morita and Gyökeres, placing Debast at the back to create a line of three defenders.

Quenda had a shot in the area and Gyökeres was also unable to finish from a chance in the box, as the game opened up.

After Gyökeres, on another one of his runs, tested Diogo Costa, FC Porto responded with the equaliser in the fourth of five minutes of added time: Fábio Vieira crossed, Samu cushioned it into the area, and Namaso sent it home to take the score to 1-1.

When Quenda had seemingly been fouled by Zé Pedro, protests and an increasingly tense atmosphere followed. Hjulmand and Matheus Reis received yellow cards, and the Brazilian defender received a second immediately afterwards and was sent off. Ousmane Diomande followed him for an incident with Fábio Vieira, for which he was shown a straight red.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Next up is a home fixture in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 qualifying play-offs, against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.