EINTRACHT FRANKFURT have qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League after coming from behind to beat Sporting Lisbon in their final group game. Kolo Muani scored a 72nd-minute winner for the visitors. Arthur Gomes had put the hosts ahead in the 39th and Frankfurt equalized with a penalty kick converted by Daichi Kamada in the 62nd.
Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt celebratesCredit: Getty
Sporting was leading Group D while it was winning at home, but it ended in third place and with a spot in the Europa League playoffs.
A draw would have been enough for it to advance regardless of other results.
The Portuguese side were trying to make it to the round of 16 of the Champions League for the second straight season.
They were eliminated by Manchester City in the last 16 last season.
Sporting started the game one point behind Tottenham, which scored late to win 2-1 at Marseille and finish first in what had been a wide-open Group D entering the last round. Marseille ended in last place.
Sporting lost forward Nuno Santos because of an injury in the first half. Santos was in a preliminary 55-man squad for Portugal ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
Sporting’s 17-year-old midfielder Dario Essugo made his Champions League debut in the second half.
RESULT: Sporting 1-2 Frankfurt
Sporting XI: Adan, Juste, Coates, Inacio, Porro, Goncalves, Ugarte, Santos, Edwards, Paulinho, Arthur
Frankfurt XI: Trapp, Ndicka, Jakic, Sow, Muani, Kamada, Dina Ebimbe, Gotze, Lindstrom, Pellegrini, Tuta
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That’s all from us…
That is all for SunSport’s coverage of Sporting 1-2 Frankfurt.
It was a great game, which had it all, including a Kolo Muani stunner, and a comeback from the away side that looked highly unlikely going into half time at the bottom of the group.
That win sees Spurs remain at the top of their group, with Frankfurt in second, Sporting in third and Marseille at the bottom.
In the other game in this group, it was Spurs who got a 94th minute winner, as Hojbjerg scored at the death to put the Lilywhites in the driving seat.
Thank you as always for reading, we hope you enjoyed, and have a great night!
Man of the match.
Frankfurt were resilient tonight, if you were to sum up their performance in one word, it would be that.
And no man on the pitch personified that as well as Sebastian Rode, who was substituted into the game at half time.
The ex-Bayern and Dortmund midfielder really showed his class, in an industrious, hard working performance, that showed every inch of technical nous required to compete at the top of the game.
There were a few brilliant performances, but his was the most complete, so he takes the SunSport man of the match award.
Sebastian Rode was excellent as Frankfurt came back to beat Sporting away from home.
The final standings in Group D…
This is how the group ended after a spectacular night of football in Group D.
This is why we love the Champions League, how quickly it can change, how emotions can turn from elation to deflation in a matter of minutes.
At half-time Sporting were top of the group, and Frankfurt were bottom.
With seconds to go, Sporting were heading out of Europe, and Marseille were playing Europa League.
But all of those things changed, in what was a gripping Tuesday night in Europe’s premier competition.
Tottenham (11 pts)
Frankfurt (10 pts)
Sporting (7 pts)
Marseille (6 pts)
What a finish in France!
Well, well well…
Everyone thought Frankfurt had done it and finished top of the group.
*Enter Pierre Emile Hojbjerg*
The Danish midfielder has scored the winner for Spurs in the 94th minute against Marseille!
It was some finish, that now sees Spurs top the group, with Frankfurt in second.
Sporting now go into the Europa League places after being down and out at full time, with Marseille dropping out of Europe completely!
FT. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt have done it! They stay in the Champions League!
90+4. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
So close from the corner!Sporting still believe and they have another corner!
90+4. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
The keeper is coming up and Inacio gets a yellow card…
90+3. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Sporting have won a corner at the death…
90. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
There will be four minutes of added time.
88. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Alidou is coming on for Eintracht Frankfurt, he will replace Mario Gotze.
86. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Knauff does really well on the right hand side defensively for Frankfurt, after some bright work from Trincao.
This is far from over…
84. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Kamada has a chance to seal the victory for Frankfurt, but Adan makes a crucial save.
It would have ruled out for offside regardless.
82. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Sporting are really looking to grab an equaliser here, and there seems to be a bad challenge on one of their players on the edge of the box, but the referee gives no foul and there is no VAR check.
80. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
This is how the group looks after Frankfurt took the lead…
Frankfurt (10 pts)
Tottenham (9 pts)
Marseille (7 pts)
Sporting (7pts)
At half time, Sporting were top and Frankfurt were bottom.
“Well, well, well how the turn tables…”
78. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Jakic is lucky to escape a red card there, as he brings down Trincao already on a yellow card.
The free-kick is whipped in, but no Sporting players can win it.
The home side really need to come forwards now, and they make an attacking change as St. Juste comes off for Cabral.
76. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
So as it stands now it is Frankfurt who are top of the group!
There could well be more excitement to come here…
75. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
A great goal that, from the Frenchman Kolo Muani!
Knauff plays the ball through to Kolo Muani who still has a lot to do, but he does it expertly, as he chests the ball down and smashes a volley on the outside of his right boot into the left hand corner.
Fantastic goal.
73. Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt have the lead! It’s a sensational volley from Kolo Muani!
72. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Almost a second for Frankfurt, who are really putting the home side under immense pressure now.
Kamada and Rode are really causing problems for Sporting…
70. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Another change for Frankfurt, as Knauff comes on for Ebimbe on the right hand side as they seek a second.
Gotze whips a great free-kick into Kolo Muani, but Adan makes the save.
69. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Mario Gotze whips a corner in for Frankfurt, but it comes to nothing.
Keep an eye on Gotze towards the end of this game, everyone knows he has a knack for being a match-winner…
67. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
It looks like Frankfurt are really in the ascendancy here, as they look to get a second goal that will see them go to the top of the group.
Sporting need to get their heads together and try to build again, just to get a grip on the game once more.
65. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
So in a minute’s time, Marseille have gone from top of the group, to bottom of the group…
First it was Tottenham who equalised through Lenglet, before Kamada scored from the spot to level for Frankfurt.
This is how the table is looking now…
Tottenham (9 pts)
Sporting (8 pts)
Frankfurt (8 pts)
Marseille (7pts)
63. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
A huge change from Amorim for Sporting as Dario Essugo is thrown into the mix, he is a 17-year-old with just ONE league appearance.
Trincao is also on for Sporting here.
62. Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
And he does! Daichi Kamada levels for Frankfurt from the spot!
Incredible composure and penalty from the Japanese midfielder!
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