Sporting stay second after 1-0 win
Reuters - Wednesday 22 October 2008, 21:26
DONETSK, Ukraine - A slick late goal from striker Liedson gave Sporting a 1-0 away win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday and a firm grip on second place in Group C.
Brazilian Liedson became Sporting's leading scorer in European competition with 19 goals.
The Portuguese side's hard-won victory, thanks to Liedson's low shot in the 76th minute, puts them three points behind leaders Barcelona, who thrashed Basel 5-0, and three ahead of the Ukrainian side. Basel have no points.
Liedson's fellow Brazilian Derlei managed a sly back-heel in the thick of the defence to the striker, who swivelled and shot across the goal into the bottom far corner.
Shakhtar's own Brazilians, Jadson, Brandao and Fernandinho, sparkled in the first half and kept the pressure up in the second with a series of headers, free kicks and long shots.
Sporting keeper Rui Patricio made a diving save in the 55th minute from a Jadson shot that took a deflection off a defender.
But the Ukrainian side faltered near the end yet again, as they had against Barcelona earlier this month when they let a 1-0 lead slip three minutes from time and ended up losing 2-1.
"It was an even game...a good result that is fair given our effectiveness in attack and quality in defence," Sporting coach Paulo Bento said.
"We're closer to the objective, but there is still a very complicated match to come (against Shakhtar)," he told Sport TV.
Sporting are at home to Shakhtar when the two sides meet again in Lisbon in two weeks' time to resume the battle for a place in the last 16.
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