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  • Tuesday, 12 May 2009

    Superliga Round 28: Porto Lift The Crown

    Vitoria Guimaraes 0 - 1 Rio Ave
    Benfica 2 - 2 CD Trofense
    Sporting CP 2 - 1 Vitoria Setubal
    Paços de Ferreira 2 - 1 Maritimo
    Naval 0 - 0 Estrela Amadora
    Leixões 0 - 1 Academica de Coimbra
    FC Porto 1 - 0 Nacional
    OS Belenenses 0 - 5 Sporting Braga

    So that is another Superliga crown wrapped up for FC Porto. That is the Dragões fourth title in a row, and the third in a row for Jesualdo Ferreira who becomes the first Portuguese manager to achieve such a feat. They sealed the title on Sunday in rather unspectacular fashion with a 1-0 win over Nacional thanks to Bruno Alves's header. His dodgy performances in Europe aside, Alves has been a rock at the back in the league all season for the Champions and it seemed somehow fitting that he would get the decisive goal. In truth, Porto deserve their title because they have been the most consistent team over the course of the 28 rounds so far. They were 2nd at Christmas and while others started well and fell away (Leixões, Benfica) or started badly and improved (Sporting) they have remained roughly at a constant and while they have rarely been flamboyant, few neutral observers would begrudge them a fourth consecutive title.

    Sporting had at least done their bit on Saturday with victory over Setubal at the Alvalade, Liedson scoring two goals sandwiching an equaliser from Setubal's promising U21 international striker Bruno Gama. Liedson has now hit 15 for the season, equalling his total for the past three seasons. Just down the road at the Estadio da Luz, Benfica produced another miserable display at home to Trofense, who claimed a deserved point from their spirited performance. After the visitors took the lead, Oscar Cardozo scored twice before Brazilian midfielder Paulinho secured a share of the spoils for Trofense. Quique Sanchez Flores has signed his own death warrant with his side's recent showings, winning just two of their last six.

    They could yet be overtaken in third by Braga, who crushed a feeble Belensenses side on Monday night, with Porto loanee Wason Renteria and Paulo Cesar each helping themselves to two goals. With two games left Belenenses are 4 points from safety. Rio Ave, who for so long looked doomed, are now within touching distance of safety after a win at Guimaraes thanks to Fabio Contreao's 40th minute penalty. Leixoes and Maritimo both kissed goodbye to any lingering hopes of European competition with defeats, to Academica and Pacos respectively while Amadora are safe for another year after their goalless draw with Naval, for whom there is still a mathematical chance of relegation.

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