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Sporting roar back to advance at Beşiktaş' expense

Sporting CP 3-1 Beşiktaş
The Lions came from behind to rescue their UEFA Europa League hopes and advance out of Group H at the expense of Şenol Güneş's side.

Highlights: Sporting 3-1 Beşiktaş
  • Sporting come from behind to progress at the expense of Beşiktaş
  • Visitors seem certain to advance after Mario Gomez opener
  • Islam Slimani, Bryan Ruiz and Teófilo Gutiérrez turn things around for hosts
  • Sporting join Group H winners Lokomotiv Moskva in next stage 
  • The round of 32 draw takes place at 13.00CET on Monday

Sporting CP recovered a second-half deficit to clinch a place in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 as three goals in 12 minutes ended Beşiktaş's hopes.

With Lokomotiv Moskva seeing off Skënderbeu in Group H's other game, it meant only a win was good enough for the hosts but their hopes looked over when Mario Gomez fired in the opener in the 58th minute. However, Islam Slimani, Bryan Ruiz and Teófilo Gutiérrez turned things around to ensure Sporting made it at the Turkish club's expense.

With Beşiktaş top of the section coming into the match, it was no surprise to see them have the better of the first 45 minutes. As Sporting failed to conjure any chances, Olcay Şahan thumped into the side-netting at the other end and the No10 was denied superbly just before the break when his volley was saved by Rui Patrício's reaction stop.

Rhodolfo headed over for the visitors shortly after the restart before the game's first moment of true quality led to the deadlock being broken. İsmail Köybaşı opportunistically stole possession as Sporting tried to play out from the back. The No3 fed Ricardo Quaresma on the left and the winger zipped a cross into the box with the outside of his right boot. Gomez met it at the back post with a first-time finish.

Slimani's deflected shot looped narrowly over as Jorge Jesus's men chased an equaliser and it arrived with 23 minutes remaining. The forward controlled Ruiz's ball over the top and slipped an effort under Tolga Zengin to bring things level. Five minutes later Ruiz darted clear into the left side of the area and his powerful near-post strike had too much on it for Tolga to keep out. The turnaround was completed when substitute Gutiérrez stood his marker up in the box before rifling in with his left boot.

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