Portuguese Football in English
Sporting overcame their recent psychological block against their fiercest rivals (10 successive winless games against Porto and Benfica) to earn a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory against the Dragons in Lisbon this evening.
Viktor Gyökeres scored a brilliant individual goal early on and the Swede was also instrumental in the second goal, laying on a perfect assist for Pedro Gonçalves on the hour mark. In between Porto captain Pepe was sent off.
The draw for the European competitions has taken place with Portugal’s sole representative in the Champions League given a tough obstacle in the round of 16.
FC Porto will lock horns with current English Premier League leaders Arsenal.
There was better luck for Portugal’s trio of teams in the Europa League playoffs.
Sporting, Benfica and Braga were drawn out successively, and were paired against Young Boys (Switzerland), Toulouse (France) and Qarabag (Azerbaijan) respectively.
Benfica climbed to the summit of the Primeira Liga after a hard fought 1-0 win in Braga.
The Eagles got off to a flying start at the Quarry after João Mário won possession, Orkun Kökçü releasing Casper Tengstedt who opened the scoring in the 3rd minute.
Ángel Di María hit the bar and Mário missed a great chance to double Benfica’s lead shortly after the break. The rest of the second half belonged to Braga but they couldn’t beat Anatolii Trubin.
The goalkeeper had already made a fantastic save to deny Álvaro Djaló in the first half, the Ukrainian called on again in added time when he managed to kick Simon Banza’s shot wide of the post.
Boavista’s first match following Petit’s resignation ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw against Vitória de Guimarães.
The visitors won a flurry of free kicks at Estádio do Bessa Séc. XXI and took advantage in the 30th minute, Tiago Silva’s set piece delivered to Jota Silva who steered the ball past João Gonçalves.
The Panthers dominated the second half and went close to equalising in the 74th minute when Bruno Varela denied Róbert Bozeník.
Boavista’s persistence finally paid off in added time when they won a penalty. Tiago Morais stepped up and converted with confidence, the result snapping the hosts five game losing streak in the Primeira Liga.
Rio Ave came from behind at Estádio dos Arcos where they earned a 1-1 draw against Vizela. Emmanuel Boateng went close on the stroke of half-time before the visitors opened the scoring in the 56th minute.
It was a sensational strike from Samuel Essende, the French forward scoring his seventh goal of the season after finishing off Tomás Silva’s cross with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick.
Rio Ave drew level in the 72nd minute when Boateng got on the end of Costinha’s cross and headed past Fabijan Buntić.
Vizela were reduced to 10 men two minutes later when Matías Lacava received a second yellow card. Leonardo Ruiz nearly produced a dramatic winner in added time when his headed effort was cleared off the line by Buntić.
