The exciting 2015/16 Liga NOS campaign continued with Jornada 26 this weekend, with all to play for at both ends of the table.
Sporting began the weekend in 2nd spot and visited Estoril in a bid to erase last week's loss to Benfica. Benfica, themselves top prior to the weekend and having made it to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League, were playing with confidence and hosted basement club, Tondela, on Monday evening.
Third placed Porto were also looking to get back to winning ways with the visit to the Dragão of Madeiran club, União. In what has been a turbulent season for the club, the Dragões had fallen to a 3-1 loss to Braga at the AXA last weekend.
Estoril 1-2 Sporting
Sporting made the short trip to the António Coimbra da Mota to take on Estoril on Saturday evening. Jorge Jesus’ side went into this game sat in 2nd place, still bruised following the defeat by cross-city rivals, Benfica.
Jesus rang the changes and into the back four came Ezequiel Schelotto, Marvin Zeegelaar and Rúben Semedo, while Alberto Aquilani replaced the suspended Adrien Silva in midfield and Teo Gutiérrez partnered Islam Slimani up front. João Mário replaced Bruno César on the right.
The changes appeared to vindicate Jesus’ decision making as early as the 5th minute when Islam Slimani gave Sporting the lead. A defensive header fell nicely for the Algerian who, after some nimble footwork on the edge of the box, unleashed a shot which found its way over Pawel Kieszek and into the top-left corner off the post.
A half-chance for Gutiérrez followed just before the quarter hour mark but Bryan Ruiz then went close on 27 minutes when a sublime back heel by Slimani found the Costa Rican in space just inside the box. Ruiz had time to pick his spot but ultimately fired comfortably wide without troubling Kieszek.
Slimani at the double
Just before the break, the roles were reversed as Ruiz turned provider for Slimani. A good run down the left by the former resulted in a superb cross to the far post. Slimani jumped with Estoril full-back, Babanco, and beat the Cape Verdean to the ball to head home Sporting’s second. It was a thoroughly deserved cushion for Sporting who had been totally dominant in the first 45 minutes.
Sporting began the second half positively but Estoril also found themselves with a golden opportunity to get off the mark in the 50th minute. Léo Bonatini’s ball in from the left found the unmarked Frédéric Mendy advancing into the box but his low shot was blocked by Rui Patrício to keep Estoril scoreless.
Half chances came and went for Estoril but João Mário could and should have given Sporting a 0-3 lead when he was put clean through by a long ball from Marvin Zeegelaar. João Mário beat the offside trap and, bearing down on Kieszek, could only fire low and wide of the post.
On 79, Estoril did finally find a breakthrough when Léo Bonatini got his 15th league goal of the season. A corner was won in the air by Yohan Tavares and his header found the Brazilian unmarked at the back post to fire past Patrício from extremely close range. Again, questions will have to be asked of Sporting’s defending but it was a goal that Estoril’s second half endeavour had deserved.
Indeed, Estoril could have snatched a late point when an old fashioned up-and-under found Michael in the six yard box. Perhaps not expecting the ball to fall to him, the Brazilian substitute watched as the ball ran off his thigh and safely into the arms of a diving Rui Patrício to keep Sporting’s lead in tact and move the Lisbon side back into top spot, albeit temporarily.
Video highlights of Estoril 1-2 Sporting
Porto 3-2 União
Porto fans must be tearing their collective hair out at times this season. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Portistas and Saturday night’s visit of struggling União was no different.
Fresh from a humbling by 4th placed Braga last weekend, Porto were looking at this game as a chance to get back on song and back into the three-horse title race with the two Lisbon clubs. Changes were forced on José Peseiro after last week’s defeat and a makeshift back four was put out at the Dragão with young Nigerian, Chidozie, starting at centre-back alongside Mexican full-back, Layún. Spaniard, José Ángel, took over at left-back. Sérgio Oliveira was named alongside Rúben Neves in the holding role and Jesús Corona took over from André André on the right wing. Cameroon striker, Vincent Aboubakar, returned to lead the line in place of South Korean, Suk.
Despite being a slow game to start, and with swathes of empty seats visible around the Dragão, the opening goal came on 24 minutes. Sérgio Oliveira, making just his 9th league appearance of the season for Porto, had time and space deep inside the União half. His searching ball picked out the advancing Maxi Pereira and the Uruguayan beat the offside trap and stretched to cut the ball back across the União goal and find Vincent Aboubakar with time and space to tap home for the opener.
While many may have expected the floodgates to open, União had other ideas. With Porto turning over possession too easily in midfield, the ball found its way to Amílton who got to the edge of the Porto box and curled a superb effort towards the far-top corner of Iker Casillas’ goal. The Spanish international was equal to it though and produced a superb save to turn the effort over the bar and preserve Porto’s lead into the break.
The second half was only 6 minutes old when Porto doubled their lead through Herrera. The Mexican received a simple pass from Brahimi just inside the box. Despite some quick footwork, the Porto man was unable to shake the attentions of his marker, Paulinho. The former Porto junior then went to ground to challenge but Herrera’s shot cannoned off of Paulinho’s foot and looped over the top of Mozambican keeper, Ricardo Campos, in the União goal. Suddenly it was beginning to look reasonably comfortable for the Dragões.
União fight back
However, things have rarely been straightforward for Porto this campaign. They let the visitors back into the game just after the hour mark when 55th minute Brazilian substitute, Danilo Dias, rifled past Casillas from close range. Good work by Toni Silva on the right saw a low ball into the 6-yard box. Dias got ahead of the Porto backline to put the Madeirans back into the contest.
On 64 minutes Porto seemed to be stung into life when Herrera went on a jinking run that saw him beat no fewer than three União defenders before unleashing a low drive towards goal. Fortunately for the Madeirans, Ricardo Campos was equal to it and saved with his feet to keep his side in the game. And indeed União showed that Campos’ efforts had been in vain when Toni Silva and Danilo Dias again combined to equalise. Again it was a cross from the right, but this time it found Silva who escaped Chidozie in the box. With Casillas coming out to close him down, Silva managed to turn the ball across goal towards the on-rushing Dias who ghosted in behind Neves to tap home his and União’s second of the game. Parity and a cue for whistles and jeers around the stadium.
A rasping drive by Sérgio Oliveira on 74 minutes saw the ball fly just wide of Campos’ far post but it proved to be a mere stay of execution for União. On 87 minutes, up stepped Corona to seal the points for Porto with a deft one-two off Suk inside the box. The Mexican then rifled a low drive home past Campos and the Dragão breathed a collective sigh of relief. 3-2 the final score and Porto stay in 3rd place, 4 points behind Sporting.
Benfica 4-1 Tondela
Having had a mixed bag of results earlier in the season, Benfica have really caught fire under Rui Vitória. After finally breaking their duck against Sporting last weekend, it was the turn of cellar-dwellers, Tondela, to visit the Luz on Monday night. The visitors have found life extremely tough in their opening season in the Liga NOS and look dead certs for a swift return to Liga 2.
Not surprisingly, Benfica enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in this game - some 66% in all. And they made it count to by putting Petit’s side to the sword to move back to the top of the table - a position Sporting had taken on temporarily.
After sealing their place in the Champions League Quarter Finals during the week, Vitória decided to make changes in the shape of Talisca and Jardel who replaced Renato Sanches and Samaris respectively. Ederson continued in goal and Fejsa got the nod to continue in midfield after an impressive performance against Zenit.
The Benfica faithful expected goals tonight and they weren’t made to wait long for the first. Or so they thought. In the very first minute, a unique volley by Talisca looked to have caught the Tondela back four flat-footed. Kostas Mitroglou then got onto the end of it and nudged it past Tondela stopper, Cláudio Ramos. However, the Greek striker was correctly ruled narrowly offside and parity restored.
It proved to be a stay of execution for Tondela though. On 11 minutes Benfica really did take the lead and this time there was no doubt in anyone’s mind. A superb outswinging corner from the left by Nico Gaitán was met by the head of Jardel who powered ahead of his marker to nod home from close to the penalty spot. Ramos was given no chance and the Luz erupted in celebration. 1-0.
Jonas makes no mistake
On 24 minutes, Benfica doubled their lead with a goal made in South America. Once again, Gaitán was the provider, this time with a low cross from the left. The ball found its way to Jonas who had time and space to pick his spot. His low drive then beat Ramos to make it 2-0. Tondela may be a struggling side and it’s not difficult to see with this goal. A routine almost training session like move which saw no fewer than four Tondela players picking up empty space in the box.
Despite beginning the second half 2-0 down, Tondela did come out of the blocks quicker after the break. They created their first real chance of the game on 46 when well-travelled Brazilian striker, Nathan Júnior picked up the ball after neat interplay. Still some 25 yards away from goal, he let fly with a rasping drive that would have had Ederson partially worried for a moment. It was a warning shot across the bows for the Lisbon club.
Mitroglou and Pizzi both had half chances to increase Benfica’s lead before the hour mark and, on 65, it was the turn of 58th minute substitute, Gonçalo Guedes. The 19-year-old cut in from the left and unleashed a low drive which narrowly passed by Ramos’ far post. And just a minute later Mitroglou was gifted another good opportunity when a Pizzi corner was flicked on and found the Greek striker alone at the far post. However, his initial effort and the follow-up were both well-saved by Ramos who by now was earning his money plus interest.
On 69 came the third Benfica goal when Jonas grabbed his brace. A long throw by Eliseu on the left was flicked on impressively by Jardel, who escaped the attentions of two Tondela markers. Jonas was then left with a simple header which sailed over Ramos. Kostas Mitroglou then sealed the victory on 87 minutes when a long clearance by Jardel was allowed to bounce, not once but twice, by two Tondela defenders. During that time, Mitroglou ran through the middle, took a touch and buried the ball beyond the exposed Ramos. 4-0.
If Tondela could take heart from anything in this game, it was the consolation goal in injury time at the end of the game. Nathan Júnior again made a nuisance of himself for the Benfica back four and latched onto a through ball. The Brazilian proceeded to outpace Nélson Semedo and release his shot which deflected off of the diving Ederson and into the net.
And so Benfica go back to the summit and it’s as you were for the top three. Which way this will end up going is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be an exciting run-in - possibly the most exciting in the Liga NOS for many years.
by Paul Gellard
Week 26 Results
Arouca 1-0 Vitória de Setúbal
Benfica 4-1 Tondela
Estoril 1-2 Sporting
FC Porto 3-2 União da Madeira
Marítimo 0-3 Boavista
Moreirense 2-2 Académica
Nacional 1-0 Rio Ave
Vitória de Guimarães 0-1 Paços de Ferreira
Belenenses 3-0 Braga
