Sporting Lisbon clinched their first Portuguese league title since 2002 after they defeated relegation-threatened Boavista 1-0 on Tuesday to beat Porto and Benfica to the top spot.
The Portuguese league have been mainly dominated by Porto and Benfica. Porto had won 11 titles and Benfica seven since Sporting last lifted the trophy 19 years ago.
Paulinho scored the title-winning goal for the Lions in the 36th minute, hitting the top of the net from close range after a low cross into the area, sparking scenes of pandemonium across the country’s capital.
The victory left a currently unbeaten Sporting eight points ahead of second-place Porto with two games left to play. Benfica, who beat last-place Nacional de Madeira 3-1 earlier on Tuesday, are 12 points behind in third place.
Sporting supporters bearing the club’s green and white colours took to the streets to celebrate the club’s triumph waving flags while chanting ‘champions’ in unison
Sporting’s title comes three years after the club endured one of the worst crises in club history when dozens of fans with their faces covered forced their way into the team’s training complex and assaulted players and staff.
The shocking attack, which attracted worldwide headlines, came after Sporting failed to qualify for the Champions League which further compounded ongoing internal disputes involving players, club directors and its controversial president at the time.
