Week 2 of Liga NOS 2019/20 saw Famalicão and Benfica register wins to be the only sides with 100% records at this early stage of the season, while newly promoted Paços Ferreira are still looking to get off the mark after defeat to Santa Clara.
Towards the top end, Sporting edged a tight contest with Braga, and Porto got back on track after a tricky start to the season in thrashing Vitória Setúbal 4-0. The hero of the hour, and PortuGOAL’s Figure of the Week, was new signing Zé Luís, who chipped in with a predatory hat-trick.
This summer Sérgio Conceição brought 28-year-old Zé Luis back to Portugal after a 4-year spell in Russia with Spartak Moscow. The pair worked together to good effect previously at Braga, the forward hitting 11 goals in 25 games of 2014/15, but a couple of eyebrows were raised when it was announced the duo would link up once more at Porto this season.
Porto have experienced a difficult start to the campaign, suffering an exit from Champions League qualifying as well as an opening day defeat in the league to promoted side Gil Vicente. Still Zé Luís’ recent form is a plus, and he has taken advantage of the below par form of Tiquinho Soares to jump to the front of the striker queue at the Estádio do Dragão.
He came off the bench to score in the ultimately fruitless 2nd leg European defeat to Krasnodar in midweek and the manager rightly rewarded him with a start in Saturday evening’s demolition of Vitória. Zé Luís and Porto were up and running as early as the 11th minute, the striker collecting a pass from Luís Diaz before beating Giorgi Makaridze from range with a superb low shot.
Nine minutes later Zé Luís doubled his tally with an instinctive forward’s finish. Alex Telles’ deep free kick was flicked on by Pepe, and the striker reacted brilliantly at the far post to guide his header into the opposite corner.
Into the second half Zé Luís showed off his aerial prowess once again to complete his hat-trick. Makaridze came to collect Telles’ corner delivery but Zé Luís beat the keeper and the rest of the defence to head into an empty net.
Luís Diaz rounded off a fine evening’s work for Porto moments later, helping to relieve the pressure on the team and coach alike, with Luís again involved, releasing Marega with a neat ball who ended up providing the assist.
Porto will be hoping the victory was a turning point in their fledgling season, and if it is then it could scarcely be better timed, Benfica await in the Clássico next weekend, occasions which usually prove season-defining at the top of the table.
While others around him search for their best form it at least looks like Zé Luís is finding his form just in time. Benfica will do well to keep him quiet on Saturday’s evidence.
By Jamie Farr
