Portuguese Liga ZON Sagres - Week 8 League Report. Familiar story at the Alvalade as Benfica move into second place. Porto march on.
Liga ZON Sagres - Week 8 Reports, by Tom Kundert
It was a familiar story at the Alvalade. Sporting dominated possession without creating a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances. Only a last-gasp goal from full-back Abel prevented another embarrassing result for Paulo Sergio’s team against the side sitting rock bottom of the standings.
Benfica made it four consecutive wins in the Liga ZON Sagres with a narrow victory over Portimonense on Sunday night to put pressure on FC Porto who played on Monday evening.
If the Dragons felt any pressure they gave an emphatic answer as to their ability to deal with it. A thumping 5-1 win at home to Leiria maintained Porto’s 7-point lead at the top of the table.
Academica continue to quietly go about their business in impressive fashion. Jorge Costa’s side have lost just two of their eight games to date, and this latest victory sends the Coimbra team up to the heady heights of third place in the table.
Two early goals were the key to the victory, with Miguel Fidalgo and Markus Berger heading in left-wing crosses to put the hosts in charge. Academica had to play the last 15 minutes with ten men after Nuno Coelho was sent off and Nacional halved the deficit late on through Danielson, but it proved too little too late.
Paços looked on course for a win when Baiano put them into the lead on the stroke of half time. But former Paços striker Leandro Tatu had other ideas, latching on to a Wilson Eduardo cross to equalise in the 73rd minute.
The home team were then reduced to ten men as Jorginho was sent off and Tatu almost grabbed all three points for Beira-Mar with a late chance that he just failed to convert.
Vitoria Setubal coach Manuel Fernandes has assembled a competitive squad from threadbare resources. So much so that one of Portugal’s most historical clubs may by spared their usual relegation dogfight of recent seasons.
A hugely significant win for Setubal sees the Sadinos rocket up the table from just above the relegation zone to just below the leading pack. Excellent goals from Hugo Leal and Anderson do O put the hosts two up midway through the first half against high-flying Guimaraes.
Either side of the interval Edgar for the visitors and Bruno Gallo for the hosts hit the woodwork in what was proving an entertaining contest. Beanpole striker Edgar did pull one back for Guimaraes on 73 minutes and Manuel Machado’s side applied intense pressure, even more so when Setubal captain Ricardo Silva was sent off ten minutes later.
Setubal goalkeeper Diego came up trumps with a superb save in the dying seconds from Edgar to ensure all three points stayed in Setubal.
A devastating 20-minute spell of attacking football by Braga straight after half time was rewarded with three goals that earned a well merited victory for the Arsenalistas.
It had looked like being a long night for the hosts in the first half as they struggled to break down the massed ranks of the Olhanense defence. To rub salt into the wounds, Olhanense centre-back Mauricio had the temerity to put the visitors into the lead shortly before the break as he rose well to head in a free kick.
Whatever coach Domingos Paciencia said in his half-time pep talk, it certainly had the desired effect as Braga came out with all guns blazing in the second half. Mossoro equalised on 49 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box, and it was not long before Braga were ahead as Lima scored from a tight angle.
The Brazilian striker hammered home his second and Braga’s third just after the hour mark to move the Champions League participants up to fourth place in the table.
In a low-key game against two struggling sides a second-half goal from striker Roberge made the difference. The Frenchman reacted well after Baba had headed against the bar to score the match winner in the 71st minute.
The victory lifts Maritimo off the bottom of the table into 14th place, while Naval drop into the relegation zone with just four points from their opening 8 games.
It was a familiar story at the Alvalade. Sporting dominated possession without creating a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances. Only a last-gasp goal from full-back Abel prevented another embarrassing result for Paulo Sergio’s team against the side sitting rock bottom of the standings.
The crowd had little to cheer about in a lacklustre first half. Helder Postiga shot into the net in the 29th minute, but the referee deemed that he had fouled goalkeeper Paulo Santos in the process and TV replays showed the official had got it right.
Rio Ave were set up to defend and do little else, but the basement dwellers almost grabbed a shock lead in the 39th minute as Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio was forced into an excellent save to deny veteran striker Joao Tomas.
Sporting gradually increased the pressure in the second half but it was only in a furious last ten minutes that a goal looked imminent. Joao Pereira struck the post in the 81st minute after good work by Helder Postiga and moments later the Portugal striker himself saw an effort bounce off the woodwork.
It appeared it would not be Sporting’s day as the hard-working Postiga saw another effort clank off the bar two minutes from time. But defender Abel had other ideas. The right-back received a throw-in, controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed across the box and into the corner of the net to ensure all three points for the Lions.
Benfica moved up to second place in the table with a deserved 1-0 victory over Portimonense. The Eagles had never lost to the Algarve side and there was little chance of that statistic changing as Jorge Jesus’ team dominated from start to finish.
The hosts started brightly, with South African striker Kadi heading over when well placed on six minutes, but from that moment onwards the Lisbon giants took firm control of the match.
Portimonense goalkeeper Ventura was in for a busy night, and the young stopper did well to thwart Saviola, David Luiz and Luisao to keep the scores level at the interval.
He could do nothing about the goal shortly after the restart however, as Javi Garcia lost his marker to head a Carlos Martins free-kick firmly into the net. The impressive Ventura then did well to prevent the visitors doubling their lead as he produced an excellent save from a Kardec header.
At the other end of the pitch, in a rare Portimonense excursion, winger Candeias did well to make room for himself and Roberto showed good reflexes to save his low shot. But Benfica were soon on the attack again and substitute Jara must still be wondering how he failed to score as he hit a loose ball over the bar from point-blank range after Ventura had made another brilliant save from Kardec.
The Porto juggernaut rolls on. Uniao de Leiria were the latest victim of Andre Villas Boas’ team as they were ruthlessly dealt a thrashing at the Estadio do Dragao.
Powerful striker Hulk is in the form of his life, and had virtually tied up the points by the 20-minute mark. In the 14th minute the Brazilian ran onto a Ruben Micael throughball and lifted a deft chip over Leiria goalkeeper Gottardi to open the scoring. He soon had a brace after combining well with strike partner Falcao and slotting into the net from close range.
Joao Moutinho then set up fellow Portuguese international Silvestre Varela to make it three-nil before the interval.
Porto took their foot off the accelerator somewhat in the second half, but were still far superior to a shell-shocked Leiria. Falcao imitated Hulk by scoring a brace, with Leiria getting some consolation in between as Carlao netted a penalty.
FC Porto remain seven points clear at the top of the table and on the evidence of this showing it is difficult to bet against the Blue and Whites lifting the championship come May.
It was a familiar story at the Alvalade. Sporting dominated possession without creating a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances. Only a last-gasp goal from full-back Abel prevented another embarrassing result for Paulo Sergio’s team against the side sitting rock bottom of the standings.
Benfica made it four consecutive wins in the Liga ZON Sagres with a narrow victory over Portimonense on Sunday night to put pressure on FC Porto who played on Monday evening.
If the Dragons felt any pressure they gave an emphatic answer as to their ability to deal with it. A thumping 5-1 win at home to Leiria maintained Porto’s 7-point lead at the top of the table.
Academica continue to quietly go about their business in impressive fashion. Jorge Costa’s side have lost just two of their eight games to date, and this latest victory sends the Coimbra team up to the heady heights of third place in the table.
Two early goals were the key to the victory, with Miguel Fidalgo and Markus Berger heading in left-wing crosses to put the hosts in charge. Academica had to play the last 15 minutes with ten men after Nuno Coelho was sent off and Nacional halved the deficit late on through Danielson, but it proved too little too late.
Paços looked on course for a win when Baiano put them into the lead on the stroke of half time. But former Paços striker Leandro Tatu had other ideas, latching on to a Wilson Eduardo cross to equalise in the 73rd minute.
The home team were then reduced to ten men as Jorginho was sent off and Tatu almost grabbed all three points for Beira-Mar with a late chance that he just failed to convert.
Vitoria Setubal coach Manuel Fernandes has assembled a competitive squad from threadbare resources. So much so that one of Portugal’s most historical clubs may by spared their usual relegation dogfight of recent seasons.
A hugely significant win for Setubal sees the Sadinos rocket up the table from just above the relegation zone to just below the leading pack. Excellent goals from Hugo Leal and Anderson do O put the hosts two up midway through the first half against high-flying Guimaraes.
Either side of the interval Edgar for the visitors and Bruno Gallo for the hosts hit the woodwork in what was proving an entertaining contest. Beanpole striker Edgar did pull one back for Guimaraes on 73 minutes and Manuel Machado’s side applied intense pressure, even more so when Setubal captain Ricardo Silva was sent off ten minutes later.
Setubal goalkeeper Diego came up trumps with a superb save in the dying seconds from Edgar to ensure all three points stayed in Setubal.
A devastating 20-minute spell of attacking football by Braga straight after half time was rewarded with three goals that earned a well merited victory for the Arsenalistas.
It had looked like being a long night for the hosts in the first half as they struggled to break down the massed ranks of the Olhanense defence. To rub salt into the wounds, Olhanense centre-back Mauricio had the temerity to put the visitors into the lead shortly before the break as he rose well to head in a free kick.
Whatever coach Domingos Paciencia said in his half-time pep talk, it certainly had the desired effect as Braga came out with all guns blazing in the second half. Mossoro equalised on 49 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box, and it was not long before Braga were ahead as Lima scored from a tight angle.
The Brazilian striker hammered home his second and Braga’s third just after the hour mark to move the Champions League participants up to fourth place in the table.
In a low-key game against two struggling sides a second-half goal from striker Roberge made the difference. The Frenchman reacted well after Baba had headed against the bar to score the match winner in the 71st minute.
The victory lifts Maritimo off the bottom of the table into 14th place, while Naval drop into the relegation zone with just four points from their opening 8 games.
It was a familiar story at the Alvalade. Sporting dominated possession without creating a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances. Only a last-gasp goal from full-back Abel prevented another embarrassing result for Paulo Sergio’s team against the side sitting rock bottom of the standings.
The crowd had little to cheer about in a lacklustre first half. Helder Postiga shot into the net in the 29th minute, but the referee deemed that he had fouled goalkeeper Paulo Santos in the process and TV replays showed the official had got it right.
Rio Ave were set up to defend and do little else, but the basement dwellers almost grabbed a shock lead in the 39th minute as Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio was forced into an excellent save to deny veteran striker Joao Tomas.
Sporting gradually increased the pressure in the second half but it was only in a furious last ten minutes that a goal looked imminent. Joao Pereira struck the post in the 81st minute after good work by Helder Postiga and moments later the Portugal striker himself saw an effort bounce off the woodwork.
It appeared it would not be Sporting’s day as the hard-working Postiga saw another effort clank off the bar two minutes from time. But defender Abel had other ideas. The right-back received a throw-in, controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed across the box and into the corner of the net to ensure all three points for the Lions.
Benfica moved up to second place in the table with a deserved 1-0 victory over Portimonense. The Eagles had never lost to the Algarve side and there was little chance of that statistic changing as Jorge Jesus’ team dominated from start to finish.
The hosts started brightly, with South African striker Kadi heading over when well placed on six minutes, but from that moment onwards the Lisbon giants took firm control of the match.
Portimonense goalkeeper Ventura was in for a busy night, and the young stopper did well to thwart Saviola, David Luiz and Luisao to keep the scores level at the interval.
He could do nothing about the goal shortly after the restart however, as Javi Garcia lost his marker to head a Carlos Martins free-kick firmly into the net. The impressive Ventura then did well to prevent the visitors doubling their lead as he produced an excellent save from a Kardec header.
At the other end of the pitch, in a rare Portimonense excursion, winger Candeias did well to make room for himself and Roberto showed good reflexes to save his low shot. But Benfica were soon on the attack again and substitute Jara must still be wondering how he failed to score as he hit a loose ball over the bar from point-blank range after Ventura had made another brilliant save from Kardec.
The Porto juggernaut rolls on. Uniao de Leiria were the latest victim of Andre Villas Boas’ team as they were ruthlessly dealt a thrashing at the Estadio do Dragao.
Powerful striker Hulk is in the form of his life, and had virtually tied up the points by the 20-minute mark. In the 14th minute the Brazilian ran onto a Ruben Micael throughball and lifted a deft chip over Leiria goalkeeper Gottardi to open the scoring. He soon had a brace after combining well with strike partner Falcao and slotting into the net from close range.
Joao Moutinho then set up fellow Portuguese international Silvestre Varela to make it three-nil before the interval.
Porto took their foot off the accelerator somewhat in the second half, but were still far superior to a shell-shocked Leiria. Falcao imitated Hulk by scoring a brace, with Leiria getting some consolation in between as Carlao netted a penalty.
FC Porto remain seven points clear at the top of the table and on the evidence of this showing it is difficult to bet against the Blue and Whites lifting the championship come May.
