A stoppage-time goal from Leandro Grimi ensured Sporting Lisbon a place in the knockout phase of the Europa League in dramatic fashion as they claimed a draw against Group H opponents Heerenveen.

Having come into the match needing only a point to book their passage, they fell behind to Oussama Assaidi's 47th-minute goal.

Sporting dominated thereafter but were only rewarded when substitute Grimi fired home from 12 yards.

Both sides showed some early attacking intent, with Heerenveen's Goran Popov trying his luck from 25 yards after only three minutes and Sporting's Liedson going close with a fine chance at the other end just seconds later.

Goalkeeper Rui Patricio's goal-kick sent the ball all the way into the Heerenveen area, where Liedson took possession and shot at goal from close range, but the alert Brian Vandenbussche was on hand to make a fine save.

Play then shifted to the flanks, with each side looking to send crosses into the penalty area.

The respective defences were dealing well with that tactic until the 12th minute when Assaidi's cross found Michal Papadopulos in the centre, but he headed wide of the far post.

Assaidi continued to find some joy out wide and in the 18th minute located Roy Beerens in the area, only for the latter to volley over the crossbar.

The Dutch side were having much the better of proceedings, with Patricio pressed into action to repel Hernan Losada's 28th-minute free-kick.

Sporting tried to hit back but both Adrien Silva and Joao Moutinho were off target with speculative efforts.

Viktor Elm, meanwhile, failed to beat Patricio with a glorious chance on the stroke of half-time.

Assaidi got the second half off to a perfect start for Heerenveen when, with just a minute gone, he collected the ball 12 yards out and drilled his shot low into the left-hand corner of the net.

Sporting came to life after that setback, dominating possession and creating a series of half-chances.

Liedson almost levelled but saw his goalbound header somehow kept out by Vandenbussche.

By now the home side were well on top, with Miguel Veloso central to their resurgence.

It looked like they were not going to be able to find their equaliser until 30 seconds into injury-time Liedson broke on the left wing and fed Grimi, who sent his shot high into the net.