After holding Benfica to a draw and knocking FC Porto out of the Portuguese Cup this season, Moreirense clocked up another impressive performance and result by beating Sporting 2-1 in Moreira de Cónegos.

The Lions started well, Victor Gyökeres earning and converting an early penalty. But Moreirense had turned it around by half time thanks to goals by Dinis Pinto and Guilherme Schettine, and the home team could have scored more before the interval.

In the second half it was one-way traffic, twice Sporting hitting the bar, but João Pereira’s team failed to carve out clear-cut chances and the new coach is now under intense scrutiny after three successive defeats. 

Porto got back to winning ways in the Primeira Liga after beating Casa Pia 2-0 at Estádio do Dragão. Nehuén Pérez and Galeno tested Patrick Sequeira in the first half with Jérémy Livolant going close for the visitors.

The Dragons opened the scoring in the 51st minute when Fábio Vieira finished off a fine move to punish a loose pass from Ruben Kluivert. Samu extended the lead four minutes later when he exchanged passes with Pepê, raced clear and fired past Sequeira.

Otávio rattled the post and Galeno couldn't capitalise after a shocking pass from Sequeira, Casa Pia going close late on when Diogo Costa tipped Duplexe Tchamba’s header off the bar.

Porto’s victory relieves some pressure on president André Villas-Boas and manager Vítor Bruno after a poor run of form saw them lose at Lazio, Benfica and Moreirense before a draw at Anderlecht.

The pitiful attendance of 32810 was the lowest seen at Estádio do Dragão in some time, many Porto supporters having enough with 8.30pm kick-off times on a Monday night and/or giving up on their team.

PortuGOAL’s Liga II weekly roundup is back. Throughout the season José Ricardo Leite will be reporting on the race to join Portugal’s elite next season and the fight to avoid dropping out of the nation’s two fully professional leagues.

This week, the Liga II action brought some significant changes at the top and bottom of the championship. 

Benfica had little trouble clocking up three more points with a 2-0 victory in Arouca to cut the gap to leaders Sporting to five points with a game in hand.

Arouca centre-back Jose Fontán scored an own goal to hand Benfica an early lead, before in-form Ángel Di María made sure of victory with the second goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

Benfica have won 7 out of 7 matches in the Primeira Liga since Bruno Lage returned to the dugout and look in good shape to mount a serious title challenge.