Sporting’s perfect start to the Champions League came apart in Lisbon as LASK turned a night of early adversity into the first victory of their European Cup campaign, striking three times on the break to leave the José Alvalade stunned.
Key takeaways
- LASK won 3-2 away to Sporting for their first-ever Champions League victory.
- Luis Suárez put Sporting ahead from the penalty spot in the third minute.
- Lang levelled within 10 minutes after a Sporting error in their own penalty area.
- Second-half counter-attacks brought goals from Kalajdzic and Danek for the Austrian side.
- Suárez scored again in the 89th minute, but LASK survived seven minutes of stoppage time.
LASK punish Sporting’s dominance
Sporting had opened their Champions League run with wins over Galatasaray and Lens, and the visit of LASK appeared to offer another opportunity to maintain that momentum. The hosts made the ideal start when Ljubicic fouled Irankunda after only three minutes. Luis Suárez converted the resulting penalty and Sporting seemed set for a comfortable evening.
LASK had other plans. Ten minutes later, Suárez lost possession inside his own area and the visitors broke forward at speed. Lang finished the move to restore parity, setting the pattern for a disciplined away performance built around protecting their box and attacking immediately whenever Sporting left space behind them.
Sporting retained control of the ball for long spells but could not translate it into a decisive advantage. Simões sent a volley narrowly wide, while Araújo failed to make proper contact with a header from a cross. LASK were content to withstand the pressure, knowing their transitions were causing real damage.
A historic Austrian night in Lisbon
The visitors lost goalkeeper Jungwirth to injury during the second half, their only major setback on an otherwise remarkable night. Their response on the pitch remained sharp and ruthless.
Altimira surrendered the ball near the edge of the LASK area as Sporting pushed forward. Ljubicic carried the counter-attack before finding Kalajdzic, who beat Kaique Pereira to make it 2-1. Five minutes later, with Sporting committed to attack once more, Danek completed another rapid break and opened a two-goal cushion.
The 3-1 scoreline was scarcely imaginable for the home crowd given Sporting’s territorial dominance, but the Portuguese side did not stop fighting. In the 89th minute, Suárez reacted after Schutzenauer spilled the ball in the six-yard box, rounded the goalkeeper and reduced the deficit.
Seven added minutes gave Sporting hope of rescuing the match, yet LASK defended their lead to the end. For Sporting, the result ends an unblemished start in Europe. For LASK, it is a landmark Champions League result earned through resilience, organisation and three clinical counter-attacks.
