By Melody Gross 
Sporting ended the first group stage of the UEFA Futsal Champions League with a defeat against Kairat Almaty (3-2) from Kazakhstan.
On Friday afternoon, specifically in Kazakhstan, the Lions lined up with Bernardo Paco, Joao Matos, Merlin, Sokolov and Tainan. The score from Kazakhstan was 0-1 in the ninth minute.
Three minutes later, Alain Guilherme came off the bench to increase the Lions' lead.
However, nine seconds before the break, Arrieta reduced her pace to pave the way for the comeback.
In the supplementary phase, Alisson tied the game on a 25-meter run, and goalkeeper Cavalcanti sealed the win for Kirat with 19 seconds left before the final horn.
In this way, Sporting finished the fourth group with six points, three points ahead of its competitor.
The Lions move on to the second group stage, the Elite Round, where Palma Futsal – two-time European champions – Braga, Cartagena, Bielsko-Biala, Anderlecht, Olmesum, Lavaloise and, of course, Kirat Almaty will also qualify. present.
The first group stage of the Champions League ends on Saturday and Sporting will be hoping the draw does not see them cross paths with Palma. This is because in the Elite Round, only the top four will advance to the semi-finals.
In any case, the Lions are seeking to achieve the “Final Four” for the fifth time in a row, targeting the Champions League title for the third time, after winning in 2019 and 2021.