Sporting’s Braganca strikes late to rescue 1-1 draw at PSV

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands :Sporting rescued a 1-1 draw at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday after substitute Daniel Braganca cancelled out midfielder Jerdy Schouten’s first-half opener for the home side.
Dominant PSV wasted a host of chances and have one point from two games after they lost 3-1 at Juventus on the opening matchday.
“If you look at the game, PSV had a lot of situations to score,” said Sporting coach Ruben Amorim.
“We also had some situations, especially in the second half, and I think we grew into the game. But it was tough, we know that PSV hadn’t lost for 42 games. So to manage to draw was a good result.”
The home side took charge early on and Schouten gave them the lead in the 15th minute, netting with a stunning shot from distance inside the left post for his first European goal.
“We had some mixed feelings (after the game), because we played a good match,” said Schouten, selected as player of the match. “But in the end you want to have the three points.”
The Dutch champions looked comfortable throughout the first half, keeping more possession and defending high up, preventing the visitors from creating any danger near their goal.
Peter Bosz’s side continued to control the encounter after the break and Luuk de Jong, brilliant on the night, should have doubled the lead in the 55th minute.
The PSV captain received a neat pass on the edge of the box and flicked it over his head to strike just wide from near the penalty spot.
PSV then stormed Sporting’s goal again and goalkeeper Franco Israel had to show sharp reflexes to deny Noa Lang from point-blank range before keeping out the follow-up from Guus Til.
Sporting, who are making their third appearance in the Champions League in four seasons, looked helpless against the confident PSV side and struggled to create clear chances.
But Braganca levelled against the run of play in the 84th minute, sending an excellent volley into the roof of the net after he was set up with a cross by Maximiliano Araujo.
“It’s definitely a disappointment, because I think we dominated large parts of the game,” said PSV striker De Jong.
“We should have killed the game before they scored … In the Champions League, sometimes details can decide a game. You need to be sharp … That’s something we need to learn, that every moment we need to be switched on.”
Sporting, who claimed their 20th domestic league title last season, are on four points from two games after they beat Lille 2-0 in Lisbon last time out.
PSV and Sporting lead their domestic standings with perfect records of 21 points from seven games.