Porto are back at the summit of the Superliga in the latest round of league musical chairs in Portugal after a frenetic weekend. They took 3 points from a potential banana-skin of a trip to Braga, a side who are good at home and had only lost once at the Axa Arena before the weekend. However, first half goals from Cristian Rodriguez and Lisandro Lopez knocked the stuffing out of Jorge Jesus’s team.
It was a result that meant Sporting needed to keep pace, but they could not do so as they were held by Nacional, a side proving tricky for a great many visitors this campaign. Spurred on by a vociferous home crowd, The Madeirans took the lead when the highly-rated Brazilian Nene scored his 9th of the season with a delightful 30-yard lob over Rui Patricio in the visitor’s goal. Sporting did eventually level through the ever-reliable Montenegrin Simon Vukcevic, but it means that they drop back in the title race. Its a terrific result for the hosts who are chasing a very possible UEFA Cup place.
Benfica could not capitalise either as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw across town at Belenenses. David Suazo and Oscar Cardozo both went close but could not find a way past Julio Cesar in the hosts’ goal. Elsewhere Pacos Ferreira scored a priceless away win at Trofense, there were home wins for Academica and Amadora and Naval won away at struggling Vitoria Setubal.
The Top Table:
Porto 31
Benfica 30
Sporting 30
Leixoes 27
Nacional 25
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