Sporting CP’s title defense suffered a devastating blow on Thursday as they surrendered a two-goal lead in the dying moments of their match against Tondela, finishing with a 2-2 draw. The match, a rescheduled fixture from the 26th round of the Primeira Liga, saw the reigning champions crumble during a chaotic stoppage-time period at the Estádio José Alvalade.
After a tense first hour, Luis Suárez broke the deadlock for the “Lions” in the 62nd minute. The lead was doubled in the 78th minute when Tondela’s João Silva inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. With a 2-0 cushion heading into the final minutes, a victory for Sporting seemed a formality.
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However, the game took a wild turn in injury time. Tondela was first awarded a penalty, but Makan Aïko failed to convert, seemingly ending the visitors’ hopes. Yet, in a remarkable shift of momentum, the “Beirões” struck twice in just two minutes. A Salvador Blopa own goal in the 92nd minute gave Tondela a lifeline, and Cícero completed the improbable comeback with a 94th-minute equalizer.
This result marks Sporting’s third consecutive league game without a win, leaving them in third place with 73 points. They now trail second-place Benfica by two points and sit nine points behind the leaders, FC Porto. For Tondela, the hard-fought point is a vital lifeline in their battle against relegation; they remain in 17th place with 22 points, keeping their hopes of top-flight survival alive despite having only one win in their last 15 outings.
