Arsenal held hosts Sporting CP to a 2-2 draw at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal, in their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday night.
The Gunners had started the game with full confidence following their 3-2 win over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League last Saturday. They had more possession and left Sporting chasing the game for the first 15 minutes.
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However, in the sixth minute, Sporting broke free with Pedro Goncalves beating William Saliba but sent his effort wide of Matt Turner’s goal.
Saliba put Arsenal in the lead from Fabio Vieira’s corner in the 22nd minute. He rose the highest to head past Antonio Adan.
Sporting were back in the game in the 34th minute as Goncalo Inacio headed home from Marcus Edwards’ corner.
The Gunners appeared in control in the second half, stringing passes but lacking the decisive touch in the final third.
However, Sporting took the lead after a mix-up in the Arsenal defence allowed Paulinho to sneak between Saliba and Ben White to slot into an empty net.
Arsenal’s rally as met with a formidable performance by Adan. However, Hidemsa Morita scored an own goal to level the scores for the visitors.
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Mikel Arteta threw on Emile Smith-Rowe, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Magalhaes and Takehiro Tomiyasu in a bid to get in front, but it was not to be, as the match ended 2-2.
Arsenal will welcome Sporting to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg on March 16.
Other results
Bayer Leverkusen vs Ferencvaros
Leverkusen were 2-0 winners over Hungarian foes, Ferencvaros, at the Bay Arena on Thursday night.
Kerem Demirbay scored in the 10th minute before Edmond Tapsoba grabbed the second in the 86th minute.
Roma vs Real Sociedad
Roma beat the visiting LaLiga side at the Stadio Olimpico in the first leg of the encounter.
Stephan El-Shaarawy scored the first goal for Jose Mourinho’s men in the 13th minute and Marash Kumbulla doubled it in the 87th minute.
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Union Berlin vs Union St Gilloise
Union Berlin had to make do with an 89th-minute equaliser in the clash against Union St Gilloise at the Alte Foersterei.
St Gilloise had taken the lead through Nigerian Victor Boniface in the 28th minute before Josip Juranovic’s 42nd-minute free-kick leveller for the German side.
Yorbe Vertessen restored St Gilloise’s lead in the 58th minute, but again Berlin levelled through Robin Knoche in the 69th minute.
Boniface got his second of the night and the visitors’ third in the 72nd minute, only for Sven Michel to level in the 89th minute.
