Top Four sing from the same hymn sheet in victorious return to Primeira Liga action

Benfica became the fourth member of the Primeira Liga’s top four to claim victory this weekend, after returning to winning ways in a 2-1 victory away to Marítimo.

Sporting readjusted their grip of first place after coming back from a goal down against Moreirense to win 2-1, shortly after FC Porto had done their bit away to Santa Clara, courtesy of Luis Diaz’s sole goal.

Just one strike was enough to hand Sporting de Braga all three points too against Farense on Sunday night, prior to Benfica wrapping up the week’s action, coming from behind in Madeira to complete a quartet of single-goal victories.

 

Santa Clara 0-1 FC Porto

An excellent showing in Europe has left FC Porto within touching distance of progressing out of their UEFA Champions League group, but the picture back at home appears more delicate, sitting in fourth place, six points from the top of the table.

A half of few opportunities was rescued by an acrobatic finish from Diaz, giving Porto the lead on the brink of half-time following Wilson Manafá’s pulled-back cross.

Otávio came the closest in the second period to adding to the story of the game, volleying just over from the edge of the box in the 87th minute.

In the 90th minute, it was Sérgio Oliveira’s turn to induce belief in a goal, attempting to replicate the efforts of Diaz before delivering a tame effort on target, giving Porto a 1-0 victory on a night of few thrills.

 

Sporting 2-1 Moreirense

In César Peixoto’s first big day out as Moreirense manager, Sporting were out to resume their positive start to the new season, eyeing up their seventh victory in eight Primeira Liga games.

A fast start had the league leaders working from a one-goal deficit, as Luis Neto introduced the ball into his own goal to give the boys from Moreira de Cónegos a shock lead.

Sporting’s reply came just five minutes later, as Pedro Gonçalves, with plenty of determination and luck in between, managed to scupper the ball into the back of the net from a Nuno Santos cross in the 8th minute.

Only the crossbar stood between Andraž Sporar and the turnaround in the 22nd minute - a sentiment shared with Pedro Gonçalves after his wondrous effort, seemingly curling and dipping into the back of the net, pinged off the frame of the goal too, deep in the second half.

There would be no stopping the ex-Famalicão man in the 75th minute, however, squeezing a strike under the goalkeeper and securing all three points for the Lions in a 2-1 home victory.

 

Sp. Braga 1-0 Farense

Just days after being denied by a late Jamie Vardy strike in a 3-3 home draw with Leicester City, last Thursday, Braga were in action again as early as the following Sunday, welcoming newly-promoted Farense to the Estádio Municipal.

Brian Mansilla put the visitors in front midway through the first half before VAR’s review chalked the effort off for offside, in a period largely detailed by Braga shots at goal.

Iuri Medeiros came close to making one of those efforts count in the 53rd minute, hitting the post before Ricardo Horta also neared the opener with a close-range shot at goal, stopped by the keeper.

The Arsenalistas’ defining moment came from the unlikeliest of sources as the ball left itself spare for Ali Musrati to strike inside the box, with the Libya international finding the back of the net.

Braga’s 1-0 win sees them move back up to second place, four points off table-toppers Sporting.

 

Marítimo 1-2 Benfica

Winless in their last two Primeira Liga outings, Benfica could hardly afford a third stumble in the league, taking on a Marítimo side desperate for points near the bottom of the table.

Via a Nicolas Otamendi mistake, Rodrigo Pinho was on hand to pounce on the Argentine’s short back-pass to ring the alarm bells in the 14th minute, dinking the ball past Odisseas Vlachodimos.

Pizzi was on hand to pull a goal back from Alex Grimaldo’s pass, however, as Jorge Jesus’ men took to the break with the game level at 1-1.

From Benfica’s left-hand side, the Eagles found further joy in the 72nd minute after Everton Cebolinha worked his way inside before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. The former Grêmio winger’s goal stood between the two outfits come full-time, securing Benfica in third place and Marítimo in the bottom two.

By Patrick Ribeiro

Matchday 8

P. Ferreira 2-0 FC Famalicão

Tondela 0-2 Vit. Guimarães

Santa Clara 0-1 FC Porto

Sporting 2-1 Moreirense

Gil Vicente 2-0 Rio Ave

Portimonense 2-0 Nacional

Boavista 0-0 Belenenses

Sp. Braga 1-0 Farense

Marítimo 1-2 Benfica