Benfica moved a step closer to dethroning Primeira Liga leaders FC Porto, following the latter’s shock defeat (the first loss for Porto this season in the league) to Paços de Ferreira at the Mata Real, last Sunday.
Having done their bit in beating Desportivo das Aves 2-0 at home on Saturday night, the Eagles watched on as a Miguel Vieira opener and Mário Felgueiras’ penalty heroics combined to hand Porto a 1-0 loss on Sunday, with the advantage at the top now trimmed to two points.
The Dragons’ slip-up also offered a glimmer of hope to Sporting, who cut the gap from third place back down to five points, thanks to Bas Dost’s double in a 2-1 win away to Chaves.
Benfica 2-0 Desp. Aves
Nine games, nine finals - that was the mantra buzzing around the Estádio da Luz when welcoming Aves to the red half of Lisbon, as Benfica resumed their pursuit of Porto at the top in their quest for a fifth straight championship triumph.
With much of the danger passing through Rafa Silva and Jonas, the Eagles were, nevertheless, unable to break the visitors’ down in the first half, as the two sides roamed into the break with a goalless draw.
That all changed in the second period, with Benfica beginning to pepper Aves’ goal with greater frequency, enabling Jonas to break the deadlock in the 71st minute from Franco Cervi’s cut-back.
Ruben Dias then secured all-three points just five minutes later, as he reacted first to Raúl Jiménez’s strike to slam home into a semi-open net with his left foot.
P. Ferreira 1-0 FC Porto
Despite sitting 17th in the league table, the Mata Real has never the type of ground to ease up on, given its notable list of scalps over the years.
In difficult weather conditions, Paços began to lay the foundations for another one of those special night in the 34th minute, as a tense Filipe Ferreira cross invited Miguel Vieira to slide in at the near-post and open the scoring.
Porto aimed to bite back immediately, with Felguerias well-positioned to prevent Vincent Aboubakar’s out-stretched attempt at goal from causing damage, as the hosts held onto their lead through to the interval.
The Dragons’ avenue to goal was later offered in the form of a penalty, as Felipe was nudged over in the 66th minute, but Felgueiras stood strong once more to deny Yacine Brahimi from the spot.
‘Os Castores’ held on for the win - only their second of 2018 - with the race for the title now wide open.
Chaves 1-2 Sporting
In the knowledge that a win versus Chaves could offer Sporting a way back into the title tussle, Jorge Jesus was once again forced to attack that challenge with a string of notable absences.
With the Lions requiring an alert Rui Patrício to keep Chaves out in the first half, Sporting’s manager wasted little time in introducing Bas Dost into the game in the second half, and to no surprise it was the Dutchman who provided the solutions around the hour-mark.
Courtesy of some good work from the left by Ruben Ribeiro, the ex-Rio Ave playmaker was able to set up Dost for an easy nod in at the back-post, as the Green and Whites took a 1-0 lead.
Rodrigo Battaglia then protected Sporting’s advantage with a first-time clearance off the line before making an immediate impact at the other end.
From the right-back position, the ex-Chaves man battled for possession deep in the final third before squaring a pass across goal to Dost, with the latter tapping in his brace in the 86th minute.
Chaves replied to claw one back from the penalty spot, converted by Platiny in the 91st minute, but it wouldn’t be enough to deny Sporting of all three points.
By Patrick Ribeiro
Matchday 25
Sp. Braga 3-0 Moreirense
Rio Ave 2-1 Feirense
Benfica 2-0 Desp. Aves
Boavista 1-0 Estoril
Portimonense 2-1 Vit. Guimarães
Marítimo 4-2 Vit. Setúbal
Belenenses 0-0 Tondela
P. Ferreira 1-0 FC Porto
Chaves 1-2 Sporting
