Superliga Round 18: Benfica and Porto keep the pace

Belenenses 1-2 Sporting CP
Benfica 3-1 Pacos de Ferreira
Braga 0-1 Leixoes
FC Porto 3-1 Rio Ave
Maritimo 1-0 E. Amadora
Nacional 3-0 Guimaraes
Setubal 2-1 Academica
Trofense 2-2 Naval

FC Porto remain top of the Superliga by just a point but they left it rather late to beat a Rio Ave side bereft of confidence but with plenty of grit still left as they try and avoid relegation. Porto dominated for long periods yet failed to convert that into goals. Lucho Gonzalez put the Dragons ahead from the penalty spot in the first half and the visitors were lucky to go into the break just one goal down. But a magnificent strike with 20 minutes remaining by Fabio Coentrao stunned the hosts and at one stage looked enough for the bottom side to salvage a point before Ernesto Farias, the Argentine striker who has been more miss than hit during his spell in northern Portugal, struck two quality finishes to ensure Jesualdo Ferreira's men remained top.

Benfica were made to work hard for their win too, a 3-2 victory over a spirited Pacos de Ferreira. The Mata Real side, who are far from safe from the drop themselves, held out for 69 minutes playing a resolutely stubborn defensive game. The Eagles finally broke the deadlock through the Paraguyan striker Oscar Cardozo, with Ruben Amorim doubling the advantage four minutes later. Striker Ferreira then pulled one back for the visitors before a lovely chip from Angel Di Maria - an Argentinian winger setting tongues wagging in Portugal - restored the 2-goal cushion. It was a tense finale however as Chico Silva once again reduced the arrears and defender Kelly nearly stole a point late on.

Benfica are three points clear of Leixoes, who won at Braga in an attacking encounter. Both sides had their chances and Braga, in good form, will be rueing their wastefulness as, in the 79th minute, home defender Freachaut headed a Jean Sony cross into his own net. Sporting sit fourth on goal difference after a a frantic finish to their game across the city at Belenenses. substitute Marcelo put Jaime Pacheco’s team into the lead early in the second half. But Helder Postiga came off the bench and proved decisive, setting up a goal for Simon Vukcevic with 17 minutes remaining and scoring the second himself shortly afterwards which could prove vital for Paolo Bento's men.

Elsewhere, Setubal scored an important victory at home to Academica which lifts them up to 13th, Trofense and Naval played out a 2-2 draw and Nacional breezed past Guimaraes, a win that very much keeps alive their European ambitions.