The Sporting futsal team fell short in the Champions League, finishing fourth after losing to Cartagena in a penalty shootout. The match had ended 2-2 after regular time.
The game got off to a rocky start for Sporting, with Waltinho hitting the post from a corner kick. However, the Portuguese side took the lead just nine minutes in when Tomás Paçó scored directly from a throw-in. Cartagena responded quickly, with Gabriel Motta converting a penalty after Taynan was deemed to have fouled Pablo Ramírez in the box.
A Back-and-Forth Contest
The match was marked by a series of fouls and free kicks. Cartagena was awarded a 10-meter free kick after Sporting committed their sixth foul, but Motta’s shot went wide. The Spanish side then committed their own sixth foul, which was converted by Tomás Paçó’s teammate, a Russian pivot named Sokolov.
In the second half, Cartagena pushed hard to take the lead. The tide turned in their favor in the final quarter, with Tomás Paçó hitting the post again and Waltinho scoring with a well-placed cross shot to tie the game at 2-2.
Penalty Heartbreak
The match ultimately went to penalties, where Cartagena emerged victorious. Taynan and Wesley missed their shots for Sporting, while Waltinho and Darío Gil were successful for Cartagena. Tomás Paçó’s score gave Sporting a glimmer of hope, but Motta’s subsequent penalty sealed the win for Cartagena. Diogo Santos had the chance to tie the shootout, but his shot was saved by Chemi, ending Sporting’s chances. This is the second consecutive year Sporting has finished fourth in the Champions League.