UCL: Sporting CP Win Thriller Against Marseille

Alisson Santos scores late winner as Sporting beat Marseille 2-0

Sporting CP came from behind to defeat Marseille 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League, with Alisson Santos scoring the winning goal in the final minutes.

Sporting's man advantage allowed them to dominate possession in the opening quarter-hour of the second half...

Alisson Santos scored a late goal to seal a comeback victory for Sporting CP, defeating Marseille 2-1. Igor Paixao had given Marseille the lead with an early strike at Estádio José Alvalade, marking the French side's 100th goal in UEFA Champions League proper.

Marseille started strongly and took the lead in just 15 minutes, capitalizing on their winning form which had seen them on a five-game winning streak. However, Sporting CP fought back to claim a 2-1 victory, ending Marseille's momentum and handing them their first loss in the process.

A sublime goal was scored with remarkable simplicity, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's long cross-field ball from the right flank found Paixao, who curled a stunning shot into the far corner from the edge of the box.

A late win for Sporting CP in Lisbon 🟢⚪#UCL pic.twitter.com/YqtHCIgNYf

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 22, 2025

The Brazilian's third UCL goal of the term nearly led to an assist when he swiftly turned provider after a defensive lapse allowed him to set up Mason Greenwood with a promising chance. However, Greenwood's effort under pressure ultimately fell short.

Sporting began to rally, but the pivotal moment came on the stroke of halftime when a contentious penalty decision was overturned. Initially, referee Rade Obrenovic pointed to the spot for an apparent foul by Maximiliano Araujo on Emerson Palmieri in the box.

However, Obrenovic's decision was reversed after a VAR review, which not only canceled the penalty but also resulted in Emerson's dismissal. The Italian defender received a second yellow card, just five minutes after being cautioned for handball, leaving Marseille further embroiled in controversy.

Sporting's man advantage allowed them to dominate possession in the opening quarter-hour of the second half. Geovany Quenda hit the right-hand post from a tight angle, and Luis Suárez had a great opportunity to score. After Morten Hjulmand's layoff, Suárez received the ball near where Paixão had scored earlier, but unfortunately, his shot went wide.

Marseille's lead was looking increasingly fragile as time ticked on. Their luck finally ran out when Geny Catamo came on as a substitute for Geovany Quenda.

Player Of The Match: @11alissonsantos 🌟 #SCPOM #UCL pic.twitter.com/D1daXgmYyq

— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) October 22, 2025

Pedro Goncalves took a key pass from Luis Suárez and fed Catamo, who scored with a low shot past Geronimo Rulli. The goal was initially disallowed but was awarded after a VAR review, extending Sporting's streak of scoring in major European matches to 19 games.

Given Sporting's recent trend of high-scoring games in the Champions League, with seven of their last nine matches featuring over 2.5 goals, the fans at José Alvalade might have felt hopeful about their team's chances of completing a comeback.

Those hopes were rewarded with just five minutes left to play when Alisson Santos scored the decisive goal. Cutting in from the left flank, Santos hit a long-range shot that deflected off Benjamin Pavard and looped over Rulli, securing a 2-1 win for Sporting. This victory, their second in nine UCL matches, could be a turning point for the team.