Arsenal returns with a valuable draw from Lisbon
Goals:Sporting CP -Arsenal -Played on March 09, 2023
Arsenal imposed a 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon, Portugal, this evening, Thursday, at Jose Alvalade Stadium, in the first leg of the Europa League final.
Arsenal’s double was scored by William Saliba (22) and Hedemasa Morita by mistake (62), while Goncalo Inacio (34) and Paulinho (55) scored for the hosts.
Sporting started the match pressing, and Goncalves hit a curved ball, which passed just past the post in the fifth minute.
Arsenal responded with a first goal in the 22nd minute, when he went up passively to cross from a corner kick carried out by Vieira, and hit a header that hit the net.
Arsenal tried to add the second goal quickly in the 26th minute, with a powerful shot by Zinchenko from outside the penalty area, goalkeeper Adan shone in pushing it into a corner.
Sporting returned to try in the 34th minute, with a powerful ground strike from Iñácio from outside the area, Turner pushed it to a corner, Iñácio rose to it and hit a powerful header that hit the net, scoring the equalizer.
Sporting almost added the second goal in the 39th minute, with a powerful ground shot by Edwards from outside the area, Turner excelled in tackling it.
In the 42nd minute, Xhaka crossed from a corner kick with a header, which was blocked by Adan from the goal line, to end the first half (1-1).
Sporting started the second half with a shot from Morita from outside the area in the 47th minute, Turner grabbed it easily.
Arsenal wasted a real opportunity to score the second goal in the 48th minute, after Martinelli received a magic pass from Zinchenko, then he singled out condemnation and hit a dropped ball, the goalkeeper shone in turning it away for a corner.