TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan midfielder Hidemasa Morita registered an assist as holders and leaders Sporting salvaged a 4-4 draw away to Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Friday.

Morita set up Viktor Gyokeres to complete his hat-trick in the 58th minute, nodding down a floated pass into the box to leave the Sweden forward with a simple finish that gave Sporting a 3-1 lead.

Three goals from Vitoria stunned the visitors as they found themselves trailing for the first time in the game with five minutes left, but Francisco Trincao placed his shot in off the post in the second-half stoppage-time to grab a draw.

Sporting began the season with 11 straight wins before manager Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United in November. His successor, Joao Pereira, struggled and was sacked on Dec. 26, replaced by Rui Borges, formerly in charge of Vitoria.