Sporting beat Santa Clara 4-2 to go four points clear of Porto
Rui Borges’ side erased an early deficit, then managed the game before a late scare and a 95th-minute winner.
Apr 3, 2026, 10:14 AM EDT
Why it matters:
- The win extends Sporting’s lead at the top of the Primeira Liga and keeps pressure on FC Porto in the title race.
Driving the news:
- Sporting beat Santa Clara 4-2 in the 28th round, with goals from Pedro Gonçalves, Daniel Bragança, Francisco Trincão, and Rafael Nel. - Gustavo Klismahn opened the scoring for Santa Clara in the 3rd minute, but Sporting turned the game around before halftime.
State of play:
- Sporting now sit four points clear of FC Porto after the win. - Rui Borges made five changes to his starting XI, with Rafael Nel making his first start.
Zoom in:
- Pedro Gonçalves converted a penalty after Geny Catamo was fouled in the box, restoring parity. - Daniel Bragança and Francisco Trincão added second-half goals to put Sporting in control. - Santa Clara pulled one back through Gonçalo Paciência, whose earlier effort was disallowed for a foul on Souleymane Faye. - Rafael Nel sealed the win with a 95th-minute finish, capitalizing on a pass from Eduardo Quaresma.
What they're saying:
- “VAR esteve muito bem em anular o golo ao Santa Clara.” — Sporting coach Rui Borges, on the disallowed Paciência goal. - “A partir do penálti, o Sporting foi mais equipa.” — Rui Borges, on the turning point.
What to watch:
- Sporting’s next big test is the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal on Tuesday.
The bottom line:
- Sporting reasserted control of the title race with a resilient 4-2 win over Santa Clara.