At 1:45 a.m. Beijing time on March 10, the first leg of the 1/8 final of the 2022-23 Europa League, Sporting Portugal won 2-2 at home to Arsenal, Saliba scored the first European goal, Japan international Hidemasa Morita sent an own goal, Inacio and Paulinho respectively. The Premier League leaders almost overturned away from home, with the team full of holes in defence.
Competition focus
The end of a 4-game winning streak! Arsenal drew 2-2 away at Sporting Portugal, and the Premier League leaders sent a number of substitutes, which affected their overall strength. In the second leg, Arsenal returned home and qualified if they won as long as they won.
First goal in Europe! Arsenal defender Saliba scored with a header from a high jump in a corner, his first European goal. Saliba has scored three goals for Arsenal this season and is a defender with a knife.
Oolong gift! Japan international Hidemasa Morita blocked Xhaka's shot in his own door and sent an own goal. Kenhiro Tomiyasu came off the bench for Arsenal and played a Japanese derby in the Europa League.
Wonderful review
In the 6th minute, after Inácio's long pass, Goncalves burst into the box to get rid of Saliba and shoot into the far corner, the ball was only slightly deflected.
In the 22nd minute, Fabio Vieira crossed from a corner, Saliba nodded in front of the goal, and the ball bounced into the net in front of the goal, 0-1! Arsenal took the lead away from home, Zinchenko was yellowed by a clash with his opponent and Coates was also warned.
In the 34th minute, Edwards crossed from the right corner, and the unmarked Inacio easily threw his head into the net, and the score became 1-1! Arsenal's corner defensive is badly missed, and Sporting Portugal are also in color.
In the 39th minute, Esgaio passed the ball, Edwards fired a strong cannon from the outside, Turner fell to the ground and struggled to block the ball from the bottom line, and the Arsenal goalkeeper made a contribution!
In the 48th minute, Zinchenko sent in a wonderful pass that Martinelli successfully crossed offside and successfully faced the attacking goalkeeper, but the ball was blocked by the goalkeeper if the Brazilian had passed the ball in front of the goal.
In the 49th minute, Martinelli took the ball and Fabio Vieira fired a low left-footed shot from outside the perimeter, the ball was only slightly deflected off the line, and Arsenal missed consecutive scoring opportunities.
In the 55th minute, Edwards sent a wonderful pass, and the inserted Goncalves small angle attack was blocked by goalkeeper Turner, and Paulinho in front of the goal scored, 2-1! Sporting Portugal beat the score!
In the 58th minute, Martinelli single-handedly burst into the box, but he dribbled slightly more than the ball in the final game past the goalkeeper, and Yust returned to the defense to tackle the ball off the line, and the Brazil international missed the goal.
In the 62nd minute, Saka counterattacked with a steal in front, Xhaka tried a long-range shot from the outside, and the ball hit Hidemasa Morita and bounced into the net, and the score became 2-2!
In the 79th minute, substitute Diomand fired a low shot from the perimeter to deflect the ball to a 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal, with the two sides moving to the Emirates Stadium for a second leg showdown.
Statistics
Player ratings
Line-up
Sporting Portugal: 1-Adan/3-Youst, 4-Coates, 25-Inácio/47-Esgaio (26-Diomand 76'), 28-Goncalves, 5-Hidemasa Morita, 2-Reis/10-Edwards, 20-Paulinho (79-Cermiti 77'), 17-Trincon (11-Nuno Santos 71')
Arsenal: 30-Turner/4-White, 12-Saleba, 15-Kiviol (6-Gabriel 71')/35-Zinchenko (18-Tomiyasu Kenyo 64'), 34-Xhaka, 20-Jorginho (5-Thomas 71'), 24-Nelson (10-Smith-Rowe 71')/21-Fabio Vieira, 11-Martinelli, 7-Saca