On Thursday evening, Sporting hosted the Germans from Hoffenheim for the final matchday of the UEFA Europa League group stage. Unfortunately, the Mauves suffered a home defeat, finishing 10th and will therefore have to go through the playoffs, with the draw taking place tomorrow at 1 PM.
Sporting started the match strongly. With their first chance of the game, they quickly came close to an opening goal. Although the Germans had more possession in the first half, the home side created the biggest opportunities. The Mauves took the lead after 15 minutes when Luis Vázquez dribbled past the last defender and then curled a beautiful left-footed shot past the goalkeeper. Around the half-hour mark, Yari Verschaeren struck the woodwork: a fine shot from outside the box hit the post. Both Francis Amuzu and Luis Vázquez had chances to double the lead, but in the end, it were the visitors who equalized through Robin Hranac. The defender scored from a corner just before halftime, sending both teams into the break at 1-1.
In the second half, Hoffenheim quickly took the lead with a powerful and precise low shot from Tom Bischof: 1-2. Thorgan Hazard was then replaced by Mario Stroeykens, but it did not change the course of the game. The visitors extended their lead thanks to David Mokwa. A first attempt—Max Moersterdt’s shot—was saved by Mads Kikkenborg, but Mokwa slotted in the rebound: 1-3. The Germans showed ruthless efficiency, as Adam Hlozek soon made it 1-4 after a well-executed counterattack. Théo Leoni, Ali Maamar, and Nilson Angulo then came on for Francis Amuzu, Killian Sardella, and Yari Verschaeren. Keisuke Goto, who had previously replaced Luis Vázquez, pulled one back ten minutes before the end. Sporting threw everything forward and managed to reduce the deficit further through Ludwig Augustinsson, but it was not enough.
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