FC Porto have seen their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga cut down to just one point after their 1-1 draw away to Moreirense was followed up by an eye-popping 10-0 Benfica victory over Nacional da Madeira.
The Dragons were made to sweat for a point on Friday night, requiring a 92nd-minute equaliser from Héctor Herrera to come away from Moreira de Conégos with a 1-1 draw.
Benfica seized the opportunity on Sunday night to close in on the title holders, and how, as they demolished Nacional at the Estádio da Luz with ten goals - a result not seen domestically for 55 years.
Elsewhere, there were also victories for third and fourth-placed Sporting de Braga and Sporting, who defeated Chaves and Feirense, respectively. As always, PortuGOAL brings you all the goals at the top.
Moreirense 1-1 FC Porto
With little more than a third of the league campaign remaining, Moreirense’s light is one that refuses to go out as they hosted Porto from the lofty heights of fifth place, last Friday.
Inspiration was scarce at either end, however, as Heri saw Iker Casillas make himself big to deny Moreirense the chance to take the lead in the 36th minute before Jhonatan remained privy to Tiquinho Soares’ backheel for the visitors to keep things locked at 0-0 come half-time.
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It was a theme that was maintained for the second period, spelling trouble for Porto in the 79th minute after David Teixeira reacted first to Rafik Halliche’s header against the bar to fire Moreirense ahead.
Herrera came to Porto’s rescue late on after being found by a looping pass from Otávio, aimed at the far-post, that allowed the Mexican the opportunity to grab his side a point with a side-footed volley from close range.
Sp. Braga 2-1 Chaves
Porto’s slip-up versus Moreirense offered the Braga faithful a new lease of life in what’s already been a contagious season for the Arsenalistas, with a potential win over 17th-placed Chaves placing them just two points behind the league leaders.
Only the post stood in Braga’s way in the second minute to deny Ricardo Horta from converting a rebound from Ricardo Esgaio’s shot. The hosts continued to tot up the efforts throughout the half but would get no closer, with honours even coming into half-time.
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Chaves changed all that just six minutes into the second period via Luís Martins, squeezing a volley in at the near post following Tiago Sá’s save from Niltinho’s effort one-on-one.
The slightest of touches from Antonio Filipe between the sticks stopped Dyego Sousa from claiming a simple equaliser from Paulinho’s cross in the 62nd minute, but the Chaves keeper wasn’t to stop the Brazilian striker’s header just two minutes later to make it 1-1.
The winner had another Brazilian’s name on it as Claudemir popped up in the 80th minute, pouncing on Erdem Sen’s glancing header towards his goal to volley in for the decisive moment in a 2-1 victory.
Benfica 10-0 Nacional
All eyes were on a win at the Estádio da Luz as Benfica required a victory not just to close in on first-placed Porto, but also to recover second place back off Braga, victorious versus Chaves just moments prior to kick-off.
After just 33 seconds, Alejandro Grimaldo had the ball in the back of the net for Bruno Lage’s side following Haris Seferovic’s assist, who was off celebrating a cool finish of his own in the 20th minute to make it 2-0.
Seferovic also closed the accounts for the first half, crowning André Almeida’s low cross in the 26th minute with a simple tap-in at the back-post. The Swiss forward’s strike partner, João Félix, got in on the act in the 49th minute with a simple back-post header, setting Benfica up for a big win.
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Pizzi added to the scoreline after being brought down inside the box and winning his side a penalty in the 53rd minute, with the midfielder claiming full responsibility and tucking away the spot-kick.
There were even enough goals to go around for the Eagles' centre-back pairing of Ruben Dias and Ferro, as the latter picked up his first official goal in red and white prior to Benfica’s number six making it 7-0 in the 64th minute.
A deflected free-kick from Jonas on his comeback from injury amplified the score up to 8-0 before Rafa Silva, working in unison on the counter-attack with Pizzi, picked his spot from close range to make it 9-0 in the 88th minute.
Goal number ten was reserved for the Eagles’ number ten, Jonas, who caught Nacional napping when catching up to his own through ball and slotting a finish in at the near post, capping off an incredible night for the 36-time league champions.
Feirense 1-3 Sporting
Three winless games from Sporting has seen the pressure grow on the Lions and their once-celebrated mid-season appointment, Marcel Keizer, as they looked to change their fortunes versus bottom-of-the-table Feirense away from home.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net in the 25th minute via Marco Soares, but the celebrations were put on ice after an arguable spot from the VAR saw the referee disallow the goal for a foul on Sporting goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro.
[To watch match highlights click on the screen below]
Sporting nabbed the lead themselves on the brink of half-time, with Wendel’s header from Christian Borja’s cross going in off Briseño’s hand in the 43rd minute.
An in-swinging cross from Abdoulay Diaby fell perfectly for Bruno Fernandes to double the Lions’ lead in the 58th minute with a diving header, just moments before the midfielder notched a 10th league goal of the season with a free-kick, taking Sporting’s lead up to 3-0.
Feirense were able to pull a goal back from second-half substitute Steven Petkov, but the goal wasn’t to be enough to divert Sporting’s return to winning ways.
By Patrick Ribeiro
Matchday 21
Moreirense 1-1 FC Porto
Marítimo 0-1 Desp. Aves
Portimonense 0-1 Rio Ave
Tondela 0-1 Vit. Guimarães
Sp. Braga 2-1 Chaves
Boavista 0-1 Santa Clara
Benfica 10-0 Nacional
Feirense 1-3 Sporting
Monday 11th February
Vit. Setúbal vs. Belenenses
