Sporting kept up the pressure on Benfica as a powerful demonstration of attacking football led to a 5-2 victory at Belenenses to move the Lions back to within two points of the Liga leaders. A brace each from Islam Slimani and Teo Gutiérrez, and an Adrien rocket provided the goals for Sporting, amid an avalanche of chances created by Jorge Jesus's side.
Earlier in the evening Tondela had provided the shock result of the season as the last-placed club beat FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão thanks to a second-half Luís Alberto goal. With six matches remaining the Dragons are surely out of the title race as the Blue and Whites continue to look unrecognisable from the all-conquering side of a few years ago.
Belenenses 2-5 Sporting
Sporting coach Jorge Jesus said pre-match that if his side dropped points against Lisbon neighbours Belenenses then the title would be gone, and his players clearly took the message on board.
A vibrant display, especially in the first 45 minutes, completely tore apart a fragile Belenenses team, and only a series of incredible misses avoided an embarrassing scoreline for the hosts at half time.
Islam Slimani, Teo Gutiérrez, twice, and William Carvalho had both contrived to spurn glorious chances in the opening minutes and the only surprise was it took until the 23rd minute for the deadlock to be broken. Slimani received a clever cross-field pass from Adrien and the Algerian twisted past his marker and rolled a cool finish low into the corner of the net. Sporting continued to pour forward and the lead was soon doubled as Slimani slotted home a penalty after Bryan Ruiz had been hauled to the ground in the box.
Belenenses had been completely inoffensive but Miguel Rosa tested Patrício on the stroke of half time, firing in a long-range effort that the Portugal goalkeeper did well to turn around the post.
The visitors did not take their foot off the accelerator in the second half as a tremendous drive from Adrien and a close-range effort from Gutiérrez made it 4-0 before the hour mark. While Teo's goal should have not of counted because he was offside, Slimani was then erroneously denied his hat-trick by the same linesman who ruled incorrectly that the prolific striker had benefited from an offside position as he hit the net again.
Belenenses improved substantially after making substitutions, and a terrific header from Bakic flew past Patrício into the net in the 76th minute. Almost straight away Sporting restored their 4-goal advantage as Teo struck again from close-range, the Colombian scoring a brace for the second match running.
There was still time for Belenenses substitute Tiago Silva to score with a thunderous shot from outside the box.
Sporting showed they are still very much in the hunt for the title. Jorge Jesus said post-match that he felt his side were fresh and in great shape, based both on their performances and the way they are training, and it is difficult to argue. The energetic and impressive displays by defenders Schelotto and Rúben Semedo, and William returning to his best form, are indicative of the coach's words.
Video highlights of Belenenses 2-5 Sporting
FC Porto 0-1 Tondela
Another shock defeat at home gave further evidence that something is badly wrong at FC Porto. The mid-season change of coach has clearly failed to improve matters, with José Peseiro fairing no better than his Spanish predecessor Julen Lopetegui.
This in many ways was a typical big club versus little club clash of the Portuguese Liga, with Porto enjoying the lion's share of possession, striving to create chances against a packed defence and Tondela relying on counter-attacks to cause occasional danger at the other end of the pitch.
The hosts carved out a handful of chances, but a misfiring Aboubakar again struggled. The Cameroonian missed several opportunities and in 2015/16 he has failed to build on the potential of last season.
But it would be unfair to blame this defeat on the big striker alone. A patent lack of energy, creativity and determination within this Porto team was evident. It was therefore not a huge surprise when Luís Alberto curled an excellent 25-yard shot beyond Casillas into the top corner of the net to give Tondela the lead on 59 minutes.
Petit's side were visiting the Dragão for the first time in their history, and although they remain bottom of the standings, the three points will give the northern minnows belief they can pull off an amazing escape from relegation.
As the final whistle blew the paltry crowd of 16,217 whistled and booed the home players off the pitch. "This is not a performance worthy of the history of this institution or which these supporters deserve," said Porto coach José Peseiro, while midfielder Danilo also gave a damning verdict of the state of the club, saying: "This Porto team lack ambition."
Trying times at the Dragão.
by Tom Kundert
