Second-half goals from Sporting Lisbon's Marat Izmailov and Emiliano Insua were enough to see off Metalist Kharkiv in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
Neither side threatened during an uneventful first half at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but the Portuguese club took the game to Metalist in the second half.
They took the lead just six minutes after the restart when Diego Capel's low cross was turned in by Russian international midfielder Marat Izmailov.
Sporting doubled their advantage just after the hour mark. Argentine full-back Emiliano Insua powered a free kick straight through the Metalist wall and into the back of the net.
In a bid to turn the game around, Metalist brought on Ukranian international forward Marko Devic, and his influence helped them claim an all-important away goal.
The striker was fouled in the penalty area by Sporting keeper Rui Patricio, and Metalist captain Cleiton Xavier buried the resulting spot kick to give his side hope going into the second leg.
Mark Langshaw
