Matias Fernandez ensured Sporting claimed a 1-1 draw with Rangers in their last-32 Europa League clash.
Rangers denied victory by late Fernandez header
Matias Fernandez headed home a late leveller as Sporting claimed a 1-1 draw with Rangers in their last-32 Europa League clash at Ibrox.
The home side suffered a scare early on when Madjid Bougherra damaged his shoulder but he was okay to continue while ex-Tottenham man Helder Postiga rolled a shot just wide.
Kyle Lafferty glanced a header over from Steven Whittaker's driven cross, although Sporting finished the half in the ascendancy and Allan McGregor had to be out quickly to deny Yannick Djalo.
Gers come out after half-time all guns blazing with Whittaker testing Sporting keeper Rui Patricio with a low drive after collecting Lafferty's neat flick-on.
The breakthrough finally came with 66 minutes played when Whittaker arrived right on time to powerfully met Vladimir Weiss' corner and head home in the middle.
Just when it looked like Gers had done enough to keep a priceless clean sheet Joao Pereira's cross from the right was superbly nodded home by substitute Fernandez in the 89th minute.
Rangers carved out the first real chance of the game when Bougherra weaved his way past a couple of players before unleashing the shot, but his effort was weak and easily smothered by goalkeeper Patricio.
Poor clearance
At the other end, a poor clearance from McGregor gifted possession to Sporting, but the goalkeeper was able to breathe a sigh of relief when Maniche's tame shot fell well wide of the target.
McGregor then comfortably gathered a curling free-kick from Cristiano after the visitors had the chance to pile on the pressure when David Weir conceded a foul 25 yards out.
Sporting squandered another decent chance when Postiga's angled drive fizzed across the face of goal and past the upright.
The best chance so far fell to Rangers when El-Hadji Diouf released Whittaker down the right flank and he provided the cross for Lafferty, only for the big striker to nod over.
Diouf then tried to pick out Lafferty in the box for a header, but the goalkeeper punched clear before Whittaker hooked the rebound over.
McGregor came to the Rangers' rescue just before the break when he blocked a point-blank effort from Djalo.
Dangerous
Rangers looked dangerous after the interval and could have been ahead within a minute of the restart.
Diouf provided the knockdown for Whittaker and his thunderous shot forced a decent save from Patricio.
Rangers continued to press for the opener and Lafferty saw his shot deflected wide before Sasa Papac's effort from distance was also off target.
The breakthrough came when Whittaker rose above everyone else in the box to meet Weiss' corner and dispatch a powerful header into the net.
Sporting could have levelled when former Rangers favourite Pedro Mendes tried his luck with a shot that was spilled by McGregor.
Postiga followed up and rifled into the side-netting but he was offside anyway.
However, Sporting claimed what could be a crucial away goal with a minute to go when Fernandez met a cross from the right and bulleted a header past McGregor.
