Two late strikes keep Boro’s Euro hopes alive

Middlesbrough 2 Sporting 3

Sporting Lisbon bore all the hallmarks of potential champions as they strode into a 3-0 lead with goals from Alexandre Pedro Barbosa (49), Liedson (53) and Rodolph Douala (65).

But McClaren’s men showed their mettle and spirit by clawing their way back into the tie, although they will have to win by two clear goals in the return leg if they are to progress.

It took a stray Riggott pass in the 36th minute to break the stranglehold Boro had taken on the game, allowing Sporting to quickly set up Douala for an drive that brought a smart save from Schwarzer low to his right.

Four minutes later came Boro’s first shot on target, albeit a 35-yard left-foot drive from Boudewijn Zenden which Ricardo comfortably gathered in front of him.

McClaren made an immediate change at the break, replacing the ineffective Reiziger with Nemeth who slotted in on the right wing, pushing Parnaby to right-back.

But in attempting to adjust, Boro fell behind just three minutes after the restart.

Pedro Barbosa won a crucial tackle on Zenden on halfway and after playing in Douala who in turn fed Liedson, the skipper continued his run and just beat the offside trap.

Liedson’s pass into the path of Barbosa was perfectly weighted and he beat Schwarzer, curling the ball just inside the keeper’s left-hand post.

Four minutes later Sporting doubled their lead, initially after Schwarzer had made a superb save in denying Douala.

But Zenden again lost a crucial ball inside his own half, and with the home defence stretched, it culminated in another delightful pass, this time Douala delivering a far-post curler for Liedson to nod home.

Boro were three behind in the 65th minute as a swerving drive from Viana was saved low down by Schwarzer, only for the ball to spin off his body and into the path of Liedson.

Schwarzer again saved bravely at his near post, only for another ricochet to drop at the far post for Douala to tap home from a yard.

Boro gave themselves a lifeline in the 79th minute when Job, a 54th-minute sub for Graham, scored with a spectacular scissors-kick in meeting a dinked Zenden free-kick into the area.

Schwarzer then denied Douala as Sporting attempted to regain their three-goal cushion, but it was Boro who struck again in the 86th minute when Riggott fired in from 15 yards.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Reiziger (Nemeth 45), Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Parnaby, Doriva, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink, Graham (Job 53).

SPORTING: Ricardo, Rogerio, Enakahire, Hugo, Rui Jorge, Pedro Barbosa (Sa Pinto 77), Rochemback, Joao Moutinho, Viana, Liedson (Tello 77), Douala (Beto 90).

Referee: Stefano Farina (Novi Ligure)

UEFA Cup: Austria Vienna 1 Real Zaragoza 1; Lille 0 Auxerre 1; Middlesbrough 2 Sporting Lisbon 3; Olympiakos 1 Newcastle 3; Partizan Belgrade 1 CSKA Moscow 1; Sevilla 0 Parma 0; Shakhtar Donetsk 1 AZ Alkmaar 3.