Sporting CP KNOCK Arsenal out of the Europa League after sensational comeback win at the Emirates
Sporting CP produced a sensational display at the Emirates to beat Arsenal on penalties and knock the Gunners out of the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka fired the Gunners into the lead inside 20 minutes before Pedro Goncalves pulled back a crucial equaliser in the second half.
Goncalves produced a stunning David Beckham-esque chip from near the halfway line to beat a helpless Aaron Ramsdale and stun Arsenal.
Goncalves’ sensational equaliser for Sporting CP forced the second-leg last-16 Europa League tie into extra time, with neither side able to break the deadlock in additional time.
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However, Sporting CP were reduced to 10 men in the second half of extra time after Manuel Ugarte received a second booking for a reckless tackle on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Jeremiah St Juste, Ricardo Esgaio, Goncalo Inacio, Arthur and Nuno Santos all stepped up and successfully converted for Sporting CP in the penalty shootout.
Arsenal trio Martin Odegaard, Saka and Leandro Trossard all beat Sporting CP shot-stopper Antonio Adan from the spot-kick.
However, Gunners forward Gabriel Martinelli saw his effort denied by Adan, which allowed Santos to bury home the winner and seal an emphatic win for Sporting CP.
Sporting CP will now progress to the Europa League quarter-finals alongside Union Saint-Gilloise, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Roma, Feyenoord and Sevilla.
The Europa League quarter-finals draw, as well as the Champions League draw, will take place on Friday at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The quarter-finalists will also learn who they could potentially face in the semi-finals en route to the Europa League final on 31st May at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
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Topics: Arsenal, Sporting CP, Europa League, Football
Adnan Riaz