March 17, (THEWILL) – Sporting CP knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League after a tense penalty shoot-out at Emirates Stadium late on Thursday.
The Gunners took the lead in the first half through Granit Xhaka, but Pote’s stunning long-range strike cancelled out their advantage, sending the match into extra time. Sporting finished the game with 10 men after Manuel Ugarte’s dismissal, but goalkeeper Adan pulled off crucial saves to deny Arsenal’s attempts, and ultimately, Nuno Santos scored the winning penalty.
The match was a rollercoaster ride for both teams, with Sporting dominating in the second half, and Arsenal pushing hard in extra time. However, neither side could find the decisive goal, and the match went to penalties. It was Sporting’s goalkeeper Adan who stole the show, denying Gabriel Martinelli’s attempt after making several crucial saves throughout the game.
The result is a big blow for Arsenal, who were hoping to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Meanwhile, Sporting will be delighted with their performance and will be looking forward to their next match in Liga Portugal against Santa Clara after the international break.
As for Arsenal, they will need to regroup quickly ahead of their upcoming English Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday to keep any hopes of silverware this season alive.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
