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  • Tuesday 10 March 2009

    Superliga Round 21: Braga miss out

    Academica 1-0 Trofense
    Amadora 2-2 Braga
    Guimaraes 3-1 Belenenses
    Leixoes 1-4 Porto
    Naval 1-2 Benfica
    Rio Ave 1-1 Maritimo
    Setubal 2-0 Nacional
    Sporting 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira

    It is as you were for the top of the Superliga, after wins for each of the big three. FC Porto remain two points ahead of Benfica after a convincing win in the ‘local derby’ at Matosinhos side Leixoes. Leixoes pulled off the shock of the season by winning at the Dragao in October but they were unable to make lightning strike twice. Lucho Gonzalez gave Porto the lead from the penalty spot before Hulk took advantage of some awful defending to double the lead. Raul Meriellles made it three on 65 minutes, with Argentine Ernesto Farias completing the rout with a fourth. Diogo Valente’s goal provided little comfort for the home side, who have slipped in 6th on goal difference – four games without a win now for them.

    Benfica’s victory at Naval was not nearly as easy, with the Figueira side drawing level after Benfica had taken the lead through Pablo Aimar’s first goal in a O Glorioso shirt. After Marcelino’s equalizer Benfica were indebted to Kostas Katsouranis, whose winner from Jose Reyes’s free kick keeps them in touch.

    Sporting are a further two points behind, but still definitely in the hunt after a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Pacos de Ferreira. Goals in each half from the Brazilians, Liedson and Derlei – the latter really hitting some form with his fourth in five outings – were enough to overcome Pacos who remain perilously close to the drop zone on 19 points. There is a five point gap between Sporting and fourth placed Braga, who twice came from behind to secure a point in Lisbon against Estrela Amadora. The Brazilian Jardel (no relation to the pie-munching former Sporting striker) was on the mark twice for Os Tricolor only for Paulo Cesar and then the very highly rated Portugal U21 striker Orlando Sa to draw Os Arsenalistas level.

    Belenenses are the new bottom side in the Superliga after their 3-1 defeat at Guimaraes. It is seven matches without a win for Jaime Pacheco’s men, who have been leapfrogged by Rio Ave following their creditable draw with Maritimo. Nacional missed the chance to put some daylight between them and Leixoes in sixth following a surprise 2-0 defeat to struggling Setubal, while Senegales striker Modou Sougou was the hero for Academica as the Coimbra side overcame Trofense 1-0.

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