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| Sunday, 14 March 2010 09:43 |
Braga back at table summitLate Rodriguez goal gives FC Porto win Sporting Braga went back to the top of the table, at least until Benfica play this evening, after a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Rio Ave. In the other Saturday game FC Porto had to come back from a goal down to beat Academica 2-1.
Braga 1-0 Rio AveDespite being far from their best, Braga ground out a crucial victory at the Estadio AXA against a well-organised Rio Ave outfit.The visitors dominated the early exchanges, but Andres Madrid scored against the run of play and triggered Braga's best spell in the match. Up until the interval the hosts were in control and twice came close to doubling their advantage through Filipe Oliveira and Renteria. The second half was largely dominated by Rio Ave, with the Braga back line having to withstand increasing pressure as the minutes ticked by. The Arsenalistas held firm, however, and now have two weeks to prepare for the huge encounter at the Estadio da Luz against Benfica on 27 March. Braga: Eduardo, Filipe Oliveira, Moises, Leone (Rodriguez, 54), Evaldo, Andres Madrid, Hugo Viana, Alan, Mossoro, Matheus (Meyong, 83), Rentería (Luis Aguiar, 66) Rio Ave: Carlos, Jose Gomes (Nelson Oliveira, 54), Gaspar, Fabio Faria, Silvio, Vitor Gomes, Wires, Tarantini, Bruno Gama, Sidnei (Chidi, 54), Bruno Fogaca (Bruno Moraes, 76) Goals: [1-0] Andres Madrid, 16 Academica 1-2 FC PortoFC Porto bounced back from their midweek mauling at the hands of Arsenal with a gritty display in Coimbra.In a bad-tempered game Academica took the lead when the impressive Eder fell under a challenge from Bruno Alves in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Sougou made no mistake to put the Students in front. Porto equalised almost immediately when a poor defensive header from Orlando looped over goalkeeper Ricardo and was dropping into the net, with Bruno Alves making sure by nodding in from under the crossbar. With plenty of wild tackles flying in, both benches protesting loudly throughout and yet another tunnel skirmish at half-time, it appeared a messy game was heading for a draw until forward Cristian Rodriguez was played in by a delightful Varela pass and the Uruguayan rifled the ball into the net. There was still time for Falcao to blaze over a penalty in stoppage time, and after the game Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira admitted: "We didn't play well but the team needed this win." Academica: Ricardo (Rui Nereu, 45), Pedrinho, Luiz Nunes, Orlando, Emidio Rafael, Tiero, Nuno Coelho, Cris (Paulo Sergio, 77), Sougou, Eder (Vouho, 72), Joao Ribeiro FC Porto: Beto, Miguel Lopes, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Alvaro Pereira, Ruben Micael (Mariano, 67 (Tomas Costa, 83)), Belluschi, Raul Meireles, Varela, Falcao, Rodriguez Goals: [1-0] Sougou, 33 (pen) [1-1] Bruno Alves, 36 [1-2] Rodriguez, 87 by Tom Kundert
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Forca SL e Benfica!
Benfica the only team of the three still in European competition goes up against Marseille later this week before the weekends tilt against Braga. Benfica's depth will be put to the test again. The next 7 days will go a long way to determing what kind of year this will be for Os Gloriosos.
Forca SL e Benfica!