Group B: Sporting earn fortunate point in Moscow

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1321 votes: 2

27.09.2006

Sporting Lisbon continued their promising start in Champions League Group B with a draw away to Russian league runners-up Spartak Moscow on Wednesday. Following their opening home victory over Inter Milan, the Portuguese outfit move onto four points and will feel well-placed ahead of home and away fixtures against Bayern.

However, the men from Lisbon were under the cosh for long periods at the Lushniki stadium, needing time to settle on the artificial turf at the ground. Boyarintsev fired the home side in front after just five minutes and Spartak created a string of presentable chances, but in a repeat of their display in Munich a fortnight ago, failed to make the most of their opportunities.

Almost inevitably, the Portuguese runners-up converted their first clear-cut opening into an equaliser, although there was no doubting the quality as Nani (pictured), Luis Figo's designated successor for Portugal, burst into the area, rounded keeper Kowalewski and finished from a tight angle. The demoralised home side ran out of steam and now appear in trouble with a double-header against Inter Milan up next.

Spartak Moscow 1 Sporting Lisbon 1 (H-T: 1-0)

Spartak Moscow: Kowalewski - Jiranek, Geder, Stranzl, Shishkin - Bystrov, Kovac, Titov, Mozart (Rebko 80), Boyarintsev - Pavlyuchenko (Owusu-Abeyie 80)

Sporting Lisbon: Ricardo - Miguel Garcia (Alecsandro 46), Tonel (Paredes 58), Polga, Caneira - João Mutinho, Nani, Veloso, Tello - Yannick (Joao Alves 82), Liedson

Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

Goals: 1-0 Boyarintsev (5), 1-1 Nani (59)

Yellow cards: Stranzl / Tonel, Veloso