Mueez Ajao
– Tottenham conceded two injury-time goals as they slumped to a Champions League defeat against Sporting Lisbon.
– Spurs had a number of good chances but could not take them and looked on course to earn a point in Portugal.
– However, in the 91st minute Paulinho headed in from Pedro Goncalves’ left-wing corner to put the hosts ahead.
Also Read: Sporting beat Tottenham after two late goals
– It got better for Sporting as another substitute, Arthur Gomes, hit a fine, low strike to make it 2-0 and hand Spurs their first loss of the season.
– Sporting are top of Group D on six points after two victories, with Spurs second on three points.
– In the other group match, Eintracht Frankfurt won 1-0 against Marseille in France thanks to a goal from Jesper Lindstrom in a game marred by crowd trouble at the Orange Velodrome.
– Before the match, Sporting coach Ruben Amorim said Tottenham have “one of the best attacks in the world” but for the first time in their eight matches this season, Spurs could not find a goal.
– Richarlison scored twice in a 2-0 home victory over Marseille last week and the Brazilian had a number of chances to put his side ahead.
– In the first half he had a shot blocked by ex-Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates, headed at goalkeeper Antonio Adan and put the ball in the net after rounding Adan, but was judged offside when collecting Harry Kane’s through pass.
– Richarlison also had chances in the second half but twice put his efforts just wide.
– Tottenham, third in the Premier League, dominated the start of the second half against their hosts, seventh in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
– Emerson Royal twice had shots saved by Adan, who also made an excellent stop at full stretch to parry Kane’s powerful angled strike. Ivan Perisic also headed just wide and produced an excellent low cross which Kane was just unable to get on the end of.
– Spurs’ catalogue of misses proved costly as Sporting scored twice inside three minutes of second-half injury time to secure their second Group D win after beginning their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
– Frustrated Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, who has lost nine of his 19 Champions League away games as a manager, said: “Difficult result and when you lose the game you’re not happy.
– “We could’ve scored, and we tried to win the game, then in the last 10 minutes we can do much better.
– “It’s a pity but it was a difficult game. We tried to get a win but in the end we lost the game.
– “We had two or three situations that we can do much better in but now we have to rest and think about the next game in the Premier League.”
