Porto have held onto their three-point-lead at the top of the Primeira Liga after coming back from a one-goal-deficit to beat Belenenses SAD 4-1 away from home, this Sunday.
The Dragons went a goal down early to the hosts before a hat-trick from Brazilian forward Evanilson charged Sérgio Conceição’s men onto a 4-1 win versus the ten men of B SAD.
Also in the Portuguese capital, there was yet more disappointment for Benfica who drew 1-1 at home against lowly-placed Moreirense. The Eagles’ rivals, Sporting, did their bit away to Vizela with a 2-0 victory, reopening a six-point gap between the Lions and third place.
Benfica 1-1 Moreirense
In Ricardo Sá Pinto’s debut as Moreirense boss, Benfica were tasked with defending themselves against the former Sporting star on their own turf as they aimed to close in on their Lisbon rivals.
The Eagles were unlucky not to find themselves in front in the 20th minute after Rafa Silva fired onto the bar, with fortune continuing to side with Moreirense in the second half after Gilberto’s own goal, flying in off of Nicolás Otamendi’s clearance.
Benfica equalised five minutes later through Darwin Nuñez but would fail to go one better and find a winner in front of a restless Estádio da Luz, despite Alex Grimaldo's and Roman Yaremchuk’s best efforts to deny a 1-1 draw.
Vizela 0-3 Sporting
With Rúben Amorim back in the dugout, Sporting were hoping to bounce back from their rare blip away to Santa Clara in their second consecutive trip on the road, against Vizela.
The Lions took the lead with little less than a couple of minutes to go until the half-hour mark as Pedro Gonçalves reunited himself with the scoresheet.
Before the first half was out, Sporting had a second goal to celebrate after Daniel Bragança, courtesy of a slight deflection, found the back of the net against the newly-promoted side.
The two-goal advantage allowed for a more relaxed showing in the second period for Sporting, managing the game and equalling Porto’s 47-point mark prior to their fixture away to B SAD.
Belenenses SAD 1-4 FC Porto
Following Sporting’s 2-0 win against Vizela, Porto’s mission in Belém was to protect their newly-gathered three-point-advantage at the top of the table with an expected win against Belenenses SAD.
The hosts were in the mood for a shock, however, taking the lead as early as the 13th minute with a header from Abel Camará, attacking a Diogo Calila corner.
Porto’s tide gradually rose, taking advantage of Sphephelo Sithole’s red card in the 31st minute to equalise soon after through Evanilson, as the two sides entered the half-time break level at 1-1.
A couple of goals in quick succession around the hour mark had Porto flying towards an important victory, with Evanilson, again, as well as Mehdi Taremi both on target.
Porto’s fourth went amiss following Luiz Felipe’s spot-kick save against Luis Díaz but, just five minutes later, Evanilson was on hand to find another way through and clinch his hat-trick, creating a nine-point-gap between them and third-placed Benfica.
By Patrick Ribeiro
Matchday 18
Boavista 1-1 Gil Vicente
Benfica 1-1 Moreirense
Sp. Braga 0-1 Marítimo
Estoril P-P Arouca
Santa Clara 2-2 Tondela
Vizela 0-2 Sporting
Famalicão 0-0 P. Ferreira
Belenenses 1-4 FC Porto
Monday 17th January
Portimonense vs. Vitória