Viola happier than Lions as it ends all square

Sporting 2-2 Fiorentina

Sporting and Fiorentina played out a nail-biting encounter that ended with the visitors the happier side as they go into the second leg with the advantage under the away goals rule.

The hosts created a chance in the first minute as Joao Moutinho received the ball near the top of the area following a corner from the right and blasted a shot with his right-foot that Sebastien Frey had tip over the bar.

Fiorentina showed their intentions just three minutes later, when Adrian Mutu tried his luck from outside the box, with ball deflecting off Daniel Carrico but Rui Patricio tipped it wide.

The visitors scored on six minutes, when Juan Manuel Vargas lost his man and fired home a well-placed shot from 20 yards out.

In the 11th minute, Alessandro Gamberini hit Liedson and Sporting were clamouring for a red card but the referee only showed a yellow.

Sporting wasted a good opportunity on 19 minutes, when Moutinho found himself with plenty of room in the middle and fired from distance but Frey once again denied the effort.

Fiorentina created more danger in the 32nd minute as a through ball found Gianluca Comotto down the right and the defender wasted too much time before attempting a low cross, which was firmly cleared by Polga.

Sporting had an opportunity just before the half time whistle, as Matias Fernandez's cross from the right found Helder Postiga but the Portuguese striker's volley went just inches wide of the right post.

In the second period, Fiorentina were the first side to create any danger, when Alberto Gilardino did well to find space when pressured by two defenders and sent in a cross to Marchionni, whose header went slightly over the bar.

But it would be Sporting to find the net, when on 59 minute the ball found the path of Simon Vukcevic, who slotted home with a soft right-foot shot. However, while celebrating his goal, he took his shirt off and was booked for a second time.

The Lions took the lead 65 minutes into the game as Liedson cut infield and fed the ball to Miguel Veloso, who blasted a powerful shot with his left foot that went into the top right corner of Frey's goal.

Fiorentina could have scored in the 76th minute, when Montolivo dribbled past four players but sent a weak shot in despair that Rui Patricio had no problem to save.

The Italians equalized on 79 minutes, when Montolivo chipped the ball into the box and Gilardino controlled it with his chest before volleying home.

There was still time for one more chance and Jovetic, who had been brought on for Mutu, was played through in the 87 minute before moving past two Sporting defenders in the box but his shot went straight at Patricio.