Arsenal beats Sporting Lisbon on Havertz's late goal in Champions League quarterfinals
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg, with Kai Havertz scoring a stoppage-time winner to give the team a crucial advantage ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
- The match was tightly contested, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya making several key saves to keep Sporting at bay, including a notable double save late in the game.
- This win marks a strong response from Arsenal after recent setbacks in domestic cup competitions, reinforcing their position as Premier League leaders and keeping their hopes alive for a second consecutive Champions League semifinal.
- Bayern Munich also advanced with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the other quarterfinal match, intensifying the competition in the tournament’s later stages.
- Sporting suffered their first home defeat since August and remain without a Champions League semifinal appearance, while Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of maintaining focus to close out the tie at home next week.
