Sporting Lisbon mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to secure a vital 34-30 victory over Norway’s Kolstad, significantly strengthening their bid for a spot in the Champions League knockout stages.
The Portuguese club overcame a four-goal deficit at halftime in the Group A encounter, played Wednesday in Trondheim, Norway. The win marked a critical step for Sporting towards the round of 16.
Kolstad had dominated the first half, taking a 19-15 lead into the break. Sporting had initially kept pace, with goalkeeper Andre Kristensen making several saves, but Kolstad pulled away with a 3-0 run to establish their advantage.
Sporting’s fortunes shifted dramatically after the interval. Goalkeeper Mohamed Aly, who replaced Kristensen, made crucial saves, including stopping a penalty.
The team capitalized on Kolstad’s errors and significantly improved its defensive effort. Sporting seized the lead at 21-20 just 40 minutes into the match.
Forward Francisco Costa spearheaded the offensive turnaround, scoring nine goals. Victor Romero also contributed seven goals for Sporting.
By the 50-minute mark, Sporting had extended their lead to five goals, standing at 28-23. They maintained control for the rest of the game, securing the crucial points.
The victory brings Sporting to 8 points in Group A, provisionally placing them third in the standings. Their position is pending other results in the group.
Sporting will next host German club Fusche Berlin on November 13 at their João Rocha arena.
Current Group A Standings: 1. Fusche Berlin (10 points), 2. Aalborg (8), 3. Sporting (8), 4. Nantes (6), 5. Veszprém (6), 6. Kielce (2), 7. Kolstad (2), 8. Dinamo Bucharest (0).