There was much to play for in the Liga NOS this weekend.
After an indifferent week for Portuguese clubs in European competition, some had something to prove to their respective supporters, while others were desperate for points to join them on the continent next season.
Others just needed points to get clear of the basement.
Vitória Setúbal 2-4 Benfica
The champions made the short trip south of the Rio Tejo to take on a Setúbal side who had not been beaten at home thus far in 2015/16. Added to that, there was a chance to see the top two league scorers at either end of the pitch. Jonas for Benfica and South Korean striker, Suk, were sat on 10 and 7 respectively coming into this game.
Both sides created chances in this game and the 2-4 scoreline can be considered perhaps a little fortunate for Benfica. Setúbal certainly gave as good as they got but may count the cost of poor defending which helped the Lisbon side along their way.
A healthy crowd of 9,323 at the Estádio do Bonfim saw both sides trade blows in the opening half hour before Benfica opened the scoring on 35 minutes through Pizzi. The winger picked up a ball into the box by André Almeida and shot low towards Setúbal’s stand-in ‘keeper, Ricardo. What looked like being a routine save managed to squirm under the stopper’s body and creep over the line. The 33-year-old Portuguese was playing his 4th straight game in all competitions for Setúbal and had a night he’ll want to forget.
Just 4 minutes later, Benfica doubled their lead. A superb pinpoint cross from the right by André Almeida found the head of Jonas who was completely unmarked to head past Ricardo. In fairness, the stopper was badly let down by his back four on this occasion, making Jonas’ header look like a training ground exercise.
After the break, a high through ball by Jonas found Kostas Mitroglou ready to spring the offside trap. With the Setúbal back four caught square and holding a high line, the Greek striker went through on Ricardo in the Setúbal goal and fired home with a low drive that gave the stopper no chance.
Just as Setúbal looked out of the game, a lifeline presented itself through good work from Suk. The Korean striker cut inside from the right before firing a low drive against Júlio César’s near post. The rebound fell kindly for Vasco Costa who was waiting unmarked in the six-yard box to tap home and make it 1-3.
With Setúbal beginning to press Benfica for a second, a fine run by Filip Djuricic and a ricochet or two found the ball falling to Kostas Mitroglou on the edge of the box. His low shot came back off the post before hitting the diving, Ricardo, on the back of the leg and then creeping into the net. 1-4.
There was one final twist in this game though as Vasco Costa struck a shot from range. With the shot looking wayward, Suk was on hand in the melee to direct it past Júlio César and into the Benfica net to give a final score 2-4.
Nacional 1-2 Porto
Porto returned to Madeira, this time hoping for better weather than the last time they made the journey to play União. However, there must have been a sense of déjà vu as the game had to be postponed with roughly 15 minutes of normal time left on the clock. The fog decided to descend on Funchal once more and means that these two sides will have to play the remainder of the game on Monday at 12:30pm, with Porto leading 2-1.
Fresh from their elimination from the Champions League on Tuesday evening, Porto were looking to get their fans back onside by pushing on in the league. Julen Lopetegui certainly paid heed and made changes to his starting XI. Aboubakar was brought back in to lead the forward line, Brahimi and Corona providing the width. Rúben Neves was also restored to the midfield.
The game started at a fast pace and the fans didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal. Marcano headed home a Layún corner with power to give the mainlanders the lead and provide an instant response to the criticism they had received since midweek. However, the lead was to last just two minutes when Nacional equalised through Brazilian forward, Willyan. The former Beira Mar man met Salvador Agra’s corner with a header that was then deflected off of Layún on the post. Casillas was unable to keep the ball out and it was 1-1.
On just 14 minutes, there was more goal action. Layún’s cross from the left found its way eventually to Herrera whose shot was palmed away by Rui Silva in the Nacional goal. However, the ball went only as far as Yacine Brahimi and the Algerian was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net to make it 1-2.
Brahimi and Aboubakar both had chances for Porto prior to the break but it was after half-time that things began to develop. The weather began to deteriorate in the Madeiran capital and conditions became very difficult. Marcano may, for one, be happy with that as an almost certain handball in the box was missed by referee, Jorge Sousa, in the 49th minute.
Both sides traded chances but probably the best fell to Aboubakar in the 54th minute. With just Rui Silva to beat in the box, the Cameroon striker was unable to find a way through and the stopper turned the ball behind for a Porto corner.
And so these two sides will pick up where they left off tomorrow.
Article update: The final 15 minutes of the match were played out on Monday, with Porto holding on for the three points.
Sporting 3-0 Moreirense
Fresh from a 3-1 beating of Besiktas in Lisbon on Thursday, Sporting welcomed Moreirense to the nation’s capital on Sunday evening.
Os Leões went into this game having won six straight games in all competitions. Moreirense were also on a good run of form, unbeaten in their last four games, including an impressive victory at high-flying Rio Ave.
Jorge Jesus decided to freshen things up a bit for Sporting and Teó Gutiérrez was restored to the starting line-up, having missed out against Besiktas in midweek. The Colombian partnered Islam Slimani up top while Gelson Martins started on the right-hand side in place of João Mário. Italian international, Alberto Aquilani, also got a rare start in midfield with William Carvalho dropping to the bench and Adrien Silva performing the holding role.
Sporting made the early running in this game and both Bryan Ruiz and Gelson Martins had chances within the first 10 minutes. Moreirense then had a chance of their own on 13 minutes when Luis Carlos found space around the edge of the Sporting box and fired an effort that went just over Rui Patrício's bar.
On 29 minutes, Sporting took the lead from a set-piece. Quick thinking by Bryan Ruiz released Gelson Martins who found space on the right-hand side of the Moreirense defensive line. Martins subsequently ran into the box and slotted the ball calmly past Serbian goalkeeper, Igor Stefanovic, in the Moreirense goal. It was Martins' 3rd goal of the season in all competitions for Sporting.
After Slimani again went close with a header for Sporting, the Lisbon side doubled their lead on 37 minutes. A good run down the right saw Adrien Silva square the ball into the box for Alberto Aquilani. The Italian had space and picked his spot to place the ball past Stefanovic and put the Lions into a comfortable position.
In the second half, Islam Slimani was upended in the box by Rafa Sousa and referee, Nuno Almeida, pointed to the spot. The Algerian stepped up himself and fired a shot to Stefanovic's left. The big Serbian was equal to it but Slimani reacted quickest to the rebound and slotted home just inside the post. Slimani had already had three good chances up that point and would have felt some relief in having found the net.
Moreirense continued to search for a way back into this game, to their credit, and Battaglia saw a drive from the edge of the box clear the bar on 59 minutes. Ghanaian, Emmanuel Boateng, then met a pinpoint cross into the box but his bullet header was well-saved by Rui Patrício before the rebound was deflected wide from Rafael Martins' shot.
It was Martins who would then get Moreirense on the scoresheet. Having been brought down in the Sporting box by Naldo, the striker then stepped up to rifle home the penalty and give Moreirense a consolation goal on 80 minutes. And the Brazilian, who joined from Spanish club Levante this summer, tried to double his tally for the night two minutes later when he found himself with space to shoot inside the box. His shot with power was met by a superb save by Rui Patrício though and the status quo was kept intact.
And so Sporting remain top of the table and march onwards and upwards as Jorge Jesus continues to work his magic.
Other Results:
Boavista 1-1 Estoril
Rio Ave 3-1 Arouca
Paços de Ferreira 6-0 União
Vitória Guimarães 3-4 Marítimo
Tondela 0-1 Braga
Académica - Belenenses - Monday
by Paul Gellard
