Football: Leaders Sporting held to 1-1 draw by mid-table Rio Ave

Following their shock exit from the Portuguese Cup at Maritimo on Monday, Sporting suffered another setback in the league on Friday as Ruben Amorim's leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at home by mid-table Rio Ave. Sporting took the lead through Pedro Goncalves in the 43rd minute and might have gone into the break two goals to the good but for the agility of visiting 'keeper Pawel Kieszek, who turned a goalbound Tiago Tomas shot round a post. For all their dominance of possession though, Sporting couldn't add to their tally and paid the price for it in the 63rd minute when Dala Gelson got on the end of the move of the game to equalise. Sporting now have 36 points from 14 games - closest rivals Porto and Benfica go head-to-head later on Friday. Rio Ave move up a place to eighth.