This weekend saw the traditional big three reestablish their stranglehold of the top of the Portuguese league, as FC Porto went into the Christmas break with a comfortable 8-point cushion at the summit.
FC Porto ended a remarkable first half of the season with their unbeaten record intact following a 3-0 victory at Paços de Ferreira. Sporting also won away, at Vitoria Setubal, in so doing gaining a modicum of revenge for last week’s Portuguese Cup defeat against the same opponents.
Benfica continued their fine league form with a thumping 5-2 triumph over Rio Ave. The Eagles have now won nine of their last ten matches in the Liga ZON Sagres as they continue to chase Porto.
Elsewhere heavy defeats for Academica and Naval resulted in the coaches of both clubs - Jorge Costa and Rogerio Goncalves respectively – leaving their posts.
Braga bounced back from some indifferent results with a resounding win to get themselves back in the hunt for a Europa League berth. Three goals in the opening 35 minutes from Paulo Cesar, Paulao and Keita put the Arsenalistas in complete control.
Academica were forced to push forward in the second half, and Braga took full advantage by scoring two more goals on the counter-attack through Meyong and Hugo Viana.
It was the second week running that Academica conceded five goals. Nevertheless, it came as a surprise when coach Jorge Costa announced his resignation from the Coimbra club.
An Argentine master class brought some Christmas cheer to Benfica fans. Pablo Aimar got the ball rolling in the 5th minute as David Luiz surged forward and threaded a perfect pass to ‘El Magico’, who finished with aplomb.
Saviola soon made it 2-0, with the aid of a deflection, but on the stroke of half-time a classically worked counter-attack allowed Rio Ave to halve the deficit through Joao Tomas.
Benfica continued to pour forward after the interval, and the star of the show was another Argentine, Salvio. The young winger brilliantly set up a goal for compatriot Saviola, before netting a brace with two fine headers, the second of which was a marvelous looping effort from the edge of the box.
Joao Tomas was the third player in the match to score two goals as he slotted home a penalty, but it proved too little as Benfica left the field deserved winners.
Vitoria Guimaraes managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a frantic final ten minutes of an exciting game in Aveiro.
The hosts took the lead early doors through Leandro Tatu but two second-half goals in quick succession by Edgar and Pereirinha seemed set to give high-flying Guimaraes the three points.
However, the northerners hit the self-destruct button as Edson Sitta got himself sent off on 80 minutes, and Beira-Mar substitute Wilson Eduardo took full advantage by bagging a quick-fire brace to snatch victory for Beira-Mar. To rub salt into the wounds, Joao Alves became the second Guimaraes player to see red in the final seconds.
Maritimo appeared set for three points when Tcho netted a penalty with 25 minutes remaining, even more so when Portimonense’s Jumisse was sent off shortly afterwards. However, the Algarve club snatched a point right at the death as Rafael Miranda turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.
This match pitted one team that is experiencing a nightmare season against another one that is exceeding all expectations. Both scenarios were further accentuated as Uniao de Leiria scored three goals without reply to move up to the heady heights of fourth in the table.
Much sought-after Brazilian marksman Carlao broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 15 minutes, Chinese striker Zhang netted a second (64’) and Diogo Amado rounded off the scoring in the final minute.
Naval’s board responded to yet another defeat by sacking coach Rogerio Goncalves after the match.
Porto march on in Portugal, with victory at the Mata Real enabling the Dragons to go into the winter break with an 8-point lead at the top of the table.
In a furious opening spell, centre-back Otamendi put the visitors ahead, and only some brilliant goalkeeping and unusually lax finishing from Hulk and Falcao prevented the league leaders from adding more goals.
The second half was a different story however, as Paços came back strongly. It required a series of fine saves from Helton, notably from Venezuelan forward Mario Rondon, to prevent an equalizer.
Porto made sure of the win in stoppage time as Hulk converted a dubious penalty and Walter put the icing on the cake with a late late third.
Sporting ended a troubled year on a high with a convincing win away at Vitoria Setubal. The win was especially pleasing for Sporting fans, given that the same opponents had knocked the Lions out of the Portuguese Cup at the same venue just last week.
On that occasion Vitoria were well worthy of the win, but there would be no repeat as Sporting dominated the game from start to finish.
Speedster Yannick Djalo grabbed himself a brace and Abel scored the other, and only some excellent saves from Vitoria goalkeeper Diego kept the score respectable.
Benfica continued their fine league form with a thumping 5-2 triumph over Rio Ave. The Eagles have now won nine of their last ten matches in the Liga ZON Sagres as they continue to chase Porto.
Elsewhere heavy defeats for Academica and Naval resulted in the coaches of both clubs - Jorge Costa and Rogerio Goncalves respectively – leaving their posts.
Braga bounced back from some indifferent results with a resounding win to get themselves back in the hunt for a Europa League berth. Three goals in the opening 35 minutes from Paulo Cesar, Paulao and Keita put the Arsenalistas in complete control.
Academica were forced to push forward in the second half, and Braga took full advantage by scoring two more goals on the counter-attack through Meyong and Hugo Viana.
It was the second week running that Academica conceded five goals. Nevertheless, it came as a surprise when coach Jorge Costa announced his resignation from the Coimbra club.
An Argentine master class brought some Christmas cheer to Benfica fans. Pablo Aimar got the ball rolling in the 5th minute as David Luiz surged forward and threaded a perfect pass to ‘El Magico’, who finished with aplomb.
Saviola soon made it 2-0, with the aid of a deflection, but on the stroke of half-time a classically worked counter-attack allowed Rio Ave to halve the deficit through Joao Tomas.
Benfica continued to pour forward after the interval, and the star of the show was another Argentine, Salvio. The young winger brilliantly set up a goal for compatriot Saviola, before netting a brace with two fine headers, the second of which was a marvelous looping effort from the edge of the box.
Joao Tomas was the third player in the match to score two goals as he slotted home a penalty, but it proved too little as Benfica left the field deserved winners.
Vitoria Guimaraes managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a frantic final ten minutes of an exciting game in Aveiro.
The hosts took the lead early doors through Leandro Tatu but two second-half goals in quick succession by Edgar and Pereirinha seemed set to give high-flying Guimaraes the three points.
However, the northerners hit the self-destruct button as Edson Sitta got himself sent off on 80 minutes, and Beira-Mar substitute Wilson Eduardo took full advantage by bagging a quick-fire brace to snatch victory for Beira-Mar. To rub salt into the wounds, Joao Alves became the second Guimaraes player to see red in the final seconds.
Maritimo appeared set for three points when Tcho netted a penalty with 25 minutes remaining, even more so when Portimonense’s Jumisse was sent off shortly afterwards. However, the Algarve club snatched a point right at the death as Rafael Miranda turned the ball past his own goalkeeper.
This match pitted one team that is experiencing a nightmare season against another one that is exceeding all expectations. Both scenarios were further accentuated as Uniao de Leiria scored three goals without reply to move up to the heady heights of fourth in the table.
Much sought-after Brazilian marksman Carlao broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 15 minutes, Chinese striker Zhang netted a second (64’) and Diogo Amado rounded off the scoring in the final minute.
Naval’s board responded to yet another defeat by sacking coach Rogerio Goncalves after the match.
Porto march on in Portugal, with victory at the Mata Real enabling the Dragons to go into the winter break with an 8-point lead at the top of the table.
In a furious opening spell, centre-back Otamendi put the visitors ahead, and only some brilliant goalkeeping and unusually lax finishing from Hulk and Falcao prevented the league leaders from adding more goals.
The second half was a different story however, as Paços came back strongly. It required a series of fine saves from Helton, notably from Venezuelan forward Mario Rondon, to prevent an equalizer.
Porto made sure of the win in stoppage time as Hulk converted a dubious penalty and Walter put the icing on the cake with a late late third.
Sporting ended a troubled year on a high with a convincing win away at Vitoria Setubal. The win was especially pleasing for Sporting fans, given that the same opponents had knocked the Lions out of the Portuguese Cup at the same venue just last week.
On that occasion Vitoria were well worthy of the win, but there would be no repeat as Sporting dominated the game from start to finish.
Speedster Yannick Djalo grabbed himself a brace and Abel scored the other, and only some excellent saves from Vitoria goalkeeper Diego kept the score respectable.
