Ricardo Sa Pinto's reign as Sporting Lisbon coach began with a draw as Andre Santos struck late on to give them a 2-2 draw with Legia Warsaw.
Sa Pinto starts with draw
Ricardo Sa Pinto's reign as Sporting Lisbon coach began with a draw as Andre Santos struck late on to give them a 2-2 draw with Legia Warsaw.
Legia looked liked sealing a win in the first-leg of their Europa League last-32 clash, but Santos came off the bench to rescue them.
Santos fired home the visitors' second away goal of the match as the Poles twice threw the lead away to leave Sporting in pole position to progress.
Daniel Carrico cancelled out Jakub Wawrzyniak's first-half opener only for Janusz Gol to put the hosts back in front 11 minutes from time.
But they could not hold out as substitute Santos gave the club's former striker Sa Pinto, appointed earlier this week as the successor to Domingos Paciencia, reason for cheer in his first game in charge.
The visitors started brighter and Ricky van Wolfswinkel tested goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak with a shot from just outside the area before Matias Fernandez and Andre Carrillo both fired wide.
Legia almost went in front in the 24th minute, though, as Michal Zyro's left footed effort from the centre of the area was tipped round the post by Rui Patricio.
And they did take the lead in the 37th minute as Michal Zewlakow laid the ball across for Wawrzyniak to tap home.
The hosts had their tails up and only another smart stop from Rui Patricio prevented them from doubling their lead three minutes into the second half, the keeper blocking Danijel Ljuboja's shot.
Fernandez had another effort from distance comfortably held by Kuciak, but were struggling to really test the Legia keeper.
Fernandez, though, created the equaliser on the hour mark.
Maciej Rybus' foul on Emiliano Insua gave the visitors a free-kick on the left which Fernandez swung in and Daniel Carrico headed low into the net.
Legia restored their lead in the 79th minute when Gol shot home from Rafal Wolski's pass from the right.
Again they could not hold out, however, as Santos, on for Carrico in the 74th minute, curled home an 88th-minute leveller into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to put Sporting in the box seat.
