In the UEFA Europa League Thursday night’s match, the English club Arsenal, who is in great form, could not cope with the relatively less powerful team Sporting Lisbon. The match ended with 2-2 goals. As a result, both teams need a win in the second leg to secure a place in the top eight.
Visiting Arsenal took the lead in the 22nd minute of the match held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, with William Saliba’s goal. But in the 34th minute, Gonzalo Inacio equalized for the host Lisbon. He scored a spectacular header from Marcus Edwards’ corner cross.
After the break, Lisbon took the lead in the 55th minute with Paulinho’s goal. This time, former Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Edwards provided the ball. After receiving the ball in the box, Paulinho quickly put it into the net.
Arsenal equalized with an own goal just after the hour mark. In the 62nd minute, the top team of the Premier League returned to the level of 2-2 when the ball of Granith Zakar’s cross hit Hidemata Morita and got stuck in his own net.
After the match, Arsenal coach Michael Arteta said, ‘If you consider the poison of returning home with two goals in the away match, it should be taken as a positive. But we gave them (Lisbon) too many opportunities.’
(10 March/MM)