Sporting Gain Ground, Benfica Held
It wasn't easy, but Sporting Lisbon went into Braga on Sunday and walked out with a 3-2 win. Braga were reduced to nine men by the end of the match but nearly salvaged a point. But coming close does not give them any points in the standings as they are in a dog fight for the final UEFA Cup berth.
With this win, Sporting close the gap on the league leaders to four points. But FC Porto, who lost for the first time on Saturday, still have a game in hand.
Sporting got off to a cracking start as Elpidio Silva fired them infront after just 11 minutes. 'El pistolero'chested down a cross and fired it into the back of the net to give the visitors the early lead.
Liedson doulbled the advantage in the 32nd minute. The diminutive Brazilian stripped Braga defender Nem of the ball and raced towrads the goal and chipped goalkeeper Quim for a lovely goal.
Braga's poor play continued in the second half as their captain Barroso was yellow carded for a tough tackle on Joao Pinto then shown the red card seconds later for arguing with the match official.
Pedro Barbosa seemingly put the match out of reach after he converted a penalty kick in the 67th minute. But Braga did not go down without a fight.
Henrique pulled back two goals for Braga but in the end it wasn't enough. Henrique's brace came against the odds as Braga had been reduced to nine men because Maurício was red carded for comments he made to the ref.
Benfica lost ground on the front runners as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Rio Ave. Evandro had given the home side the lead in the second half but Tiago restored teh even scoreline.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Leiria were 2-1 winners away to Pacos Ferreira. Freddy and Luis Filipe bagged the goals for Leiria while Manuel replied with the lone goal for Pacos Ferreira.
Moreirense were impressive at home on Sunday as they beat Nacional 2-1. Tito and Lito scored the goals for the home team while Nacional's strike came courtesy of Antonio Gouveia.
Meanwhile, Academica and Beira Mar played to an uneventful 0-0 draw.
Source: Soccerage
