Sporting Lisbon will have to wait a little while longer to book their place in the last 32 of the Europa League after losing their 100 per cent record in Group D by drawing with Ventspils at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Despite the draw, though, Portuguese giants Sporting still hold all the aces in their group as they are now on 10 points, six clear of Heerenveen and Hertha Berlin - who won 3-2 in Holland tonight - with just two games remaining.

How good a result it will be for under-pressure Sporting coach Paulo Bento remains to be seen though, with the former youth team boss facing calls for his head following a poor run domestically that has left last season's runners-up seventh in the standings and without a league win since September.

Sporting's dismal form in the Liga is in stark contrast to their showings in the Europa League, which had seen them win their opening three games.

That perfect record was to come to an end against reigning Latvian champions Ventspils though, as goals from Alessandro Zamperini, for Ventspils, and Carlos Saleiro saw the points shared.

Ventspils, who are now bottom of the group but within a point of Heerenveen and Hertha after recording their third draw in four games, took the lead in the 14th minute when Zamperini headed home Juris Laizans' free-kick from the right.

However, the visitors, who saw their hopes of a fourth successive league title left in tatters at the weekend, enjoyed that advantage for only seven minutes before Saleiro drew Sporting level with another header.

Sporting pushed forward in search of more goals after that but were unable to find a way past visiting goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko, who produced saves from Daniel Carrico and Liedson before the break before denying Saleiro and Simon Vukcevic after half-time.

Ventspils also had their opportunities, and Igor Tsigirlash came close to snatching a late winner when his 82nd-minute header was tipped over by Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio as the game finished level.

Teams:

Sporting Rui Patricio, Silva, Tonel,Daniel Carrico (Grimi 53), Andre Marques (Angulo 46), Veloso,Joao Moutinho, Vukcevic (Postiga 74), Fernandez, Liedson,Carlos Saleiro.

Subs Not Used: Tiago, Adrien Silva, Caicedo, Abel.

Booked: Andre Marques, Fernandez, Silva.

Goals: Carlos Saleiro 22.

FK Ventspils Kolinko, Mihadjuks, Zamperini, Ndjoumek-Ndeki,Hodel, Tsigirlash (Rugins 89), Kosmacovs, Chirkin,Zigajevs (Martins 50), Laizans, Gauracs (Butriks 71).

Subs Not Used: Chasnowski, Aleksejs Visnjakovs, Baimatov,

Eduards Visnjakovs.

Booked: Zigajevs.

Goals: Zamperini 15.

Att: 18,103

Ref: Aleksandar Stavrev (FYR Macedonia).