Europa League

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Europa League | Round of 32

Feb 15, 2018 at 4pm UK

Astana Astana
1-3
Sporting Lisbon

Tomasov (7')
Logvinenko (62')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Fernandes (48' pen.), Martins (50'), Doumbia (55')

Sporting Lisbon recover to take control against Astana

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 15 February 2018

Bruno Fernandes leads the second-half comeback from the penalty spot as Sporting Lisbon recover from a goal down to beat Astana 3-1 in the first leg of their last-32 tie.

Sporting Lisbon scored three goals early in the second half to earn a 3-1 victory over Astana in the first leg of their last-32 tie on Thursday evening.

The Portuguese club trailed to a Marin Tomasov goal after just seven minutes and took time to get back into the contest at the Astana Arena.

Bruno Fernandes started the second-half comeback from the spot three minutes after the restart, however, and further goals soon followed from Gelson Fernandes and Seydou Doumbia.

Astana, who played the final half-hour with 10 men following Yuri Logvinenko's red card, found themselves in front early on through a smart left-footed finish from Tomasov.

The visitors tried desperately to find a response before the interval, coming close to doing so through a couple of Bryan Ruiz shots that Nenad Eric was equal to on both occasions - the second being pushed over the bar.

Djordje Despotovic had an attempt comfortably gathered by Rui Patricio at the other end, however, and Ivan Mayewski should have done better when picked out in a promising position.

Sporting did have a goal ruled out for offside after Doumbia found a way through, but Patricio was again required prior to that with a double stop as the home side took a slender lead into the break.

The match was soon turned completely on its head, though, as Logvinenko picked up the first of his two yellows for handball in the box and Fernandes tucked away from the spot.

Martins was then in the right place to steer the second home from inside the box and Doumbia finished from close range to round off the scoring, profiting from some good work from Fernandes.

The evening went from bad to worse for Astana when Logvinenko was sent off for his second bookable offence, though Ruiz sent a header wide from the best of Sporting's remaining chances.

Astana may have snatched a second late on, only for Marin Anicic's shot from range to hit the upright in a tie that is not quite over yet ahead of next week's return fixture in Portugal.

ASTANA: (4-1-4-1) Eric; Shitov, Logvinenko, Anicic, Shomko; Beysebekov; Twumasi, Maevski, Kleinheisler, Tomasov; Despotovic

SPORTING LISBON (4-2-3-1): Rui Patricio; Piccini, Coates, Andre Pinto, Coentrao; William Carvalho, Acuna; Bryan Ruiz, Martins, Bruno Fernandes; Doumbia