Manchester United outcast Nani headed home the winner as Sporting Lisbon beat Penafiel 3-2 in the Portuguese league on Monday night . The Portugal winger , who is on a season-long loan at his first club , took his Sporting goal tally to eight in 23 appearances since returning from Old Trafford . The result kept them third in the Primeira Liga and on course for Champions League qualification , though their chances of bridging the 12-point gap to leaders Benfica are slim . Nani celebrates his headed winning goal as Sporting Lisbon beat Penafiel 3-2 on Monday night . They were made to work hard by bottom-of-the-table Penafiel , who fought back from two goals down to draw level after Sporting centre-half Tobias Figueiredo was sent off . Having come into the match off the back of a 3-0 loss to Porto , Sporting needed a positive start and goals from William and Islam Slimani had them two the good inside eight minutes . But Figueiredo 's red card gave the visitors hope and they replied through veteran midfielder Bruno Braga in the 12th minute . The Manchester United loanee celebrated his 70th-minute winner with a trademark flip . And they levelled three minutes shy of half-time through Vitor Bruno . However , Sporting were still too strong and Nani 's winner - a firm header from 12 yards following a right-wing cross - proved decisive . Frustrations ultimately boiled over for Penafiel , who are four points adrift at the bottom , as both Dani and Pedro Ribeiro were shown second yellow cards in the closing stages .
Nani scored 70th-minute winner as Penafiel beat Sporting Lisbon 3-2 . The Man United loanee headed home a right-wing cross . Bottom-of-the-table Sporting Lisbon fought back from two goals down to level . Goal takes Nani 's tally during the loan to eight in 23 appearances . WATCH : Nani breaks down in tears after scoring stunner for Sporting . CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news .