Football United

Benfica ended a 14-year wait to win at Porto thanks to two goals from Nuno Gomes. The striker scored his first after 56 minutes, heading home Nélson's cross. Then, after Ricardo Costa failed to clear a Geovanni centre, the Portuguese international had no trouble making it 2-0. The result was all the more impressive as it was achieved after Fabrizio Miccoli's 14th-minute withdrawal with a thigh injury. The Italian joined the watching José Moreira (right knee) and João Pereira (right thigh) on the sidelines.

Both teams finished a game rich in tactics but poor in goalscoring opportunities with ten men. After Porto's Bruno Alves was dismissed in the 81st minute following a clash with Nuno Gomes, Benfica defender Léo saw his second yellow card of the night five minutes from time.

Koeman, whose opposite number was another Dutch coach in Co Adriaanse, said: "The most important thing is that Benfica won. It was not a victory for Koeman against Adriaanse. I am very happy and I think we deserved it. Things were not easy for us in the first half but we improved a lot in the second. All the players were outstanding. This will boost our morale for the Champions League, but now is the time to enjoy a great victory."



FC PORTO: Vítor Baía, Bosingwa, Ricardo Costa, Bruno Alves (81', EXPULSO), César Peixoto, Lucho Gonzalez (64', Quaresma), Ibson, Alan (69', Hugo Almeida), Jorginho, Lisandro Lopez (24', Diego) e McCarthy.

BENFICA: Quim, Nélson, Luisão, Anderson, Léo (85', EXPULSO), Petit, Karagounis (54', Karyaka), Manuel Fernandes, Simão, Miccoli (13', Geovanni, 88', Ricardo Rocha) e Nuno Gomes.

Goals: 56', Nuno Gomes; 63', Nuno Gomes

SUPERLIGA

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Braga 7 17
2. Nacional 7 15
3. Porto 7 14
4. Benfica 7 13
5. Setúbal 7 13

Source: uefa.com, slbenfica.pt