|
22/12/09
Leixões and Olhanense shared the points (2-2) on a waterlogged pitch in Matosinhos on Monday, ironically at Leixões' Estádio do Mar
('sea'). Coherent football was very difficult, but what the game lacked in finesse it made up for in goals and suspense: Pouga put Leixões in front with a header on 29 minutes, Rabiola
squeezed the ball in at the back post from a cross by Ukra a minute later to equalise. Tiago Cintra headed Leixões back into the lead on 63 minutes, two minutes after coming on as sub. But Castro
gave the Algarve team a vital point fifteen mintes from time. The last minutes were farcical as the rain continued to lash down. Leixões are 14th, just one point ahead of Olhanense on ten points, while
Belenenses are bottom with the same ten points.
Leixões: Diego, Laranjeiro, Nuno Silva, Tucker, Bruno Gallo (Wénio 80), Seabra, Fernando Alexandre, Hugo Morais; Braga (Faioli 65), Pouga, José Manuel (Tiago Cintra 61).
Olhanense:
Ventura, Tengarrinha, Sandro, Éder Baiano, Stephane, Paulo Sérgio (Pietravallo 93), Castro, Rui Baião, Ukra, Rabiola (Zequinha 83), Toy (Nwokolo 66).
21/12/09
Benfica beat FC Porto at a rain-soaked Luz on Sunday in the last clássico of 2009. It was a well deserved win: Benfica were sharper in all departments on the night, and Porto managed just a couple of shots on goal, which either went wide or high or were fielded by a very safe Quim. Benfica were especially superior in the first half, with the surprise starter Urreta causing Fucile all kinds of problems on Porto's right hand side, Carlos Martins organising things well in the centre in the absence of Aimar, and Luisão and David-Luíz stopping everything that came their way. On 21 minutes, a Cardozo shot was blocked on the line by Álvaro Pereira, the ball was cleared badly by the Porto defence, David Luíz punted it back into the goalmouth and
Saviola had the nerve to collect it and plant it neatly past Helton's right hand.
It was a perfectly just result going into the break, and although the game evened out in the second half, it was a perfectly just final result, too. Porto were lacking colour and bite on the night,
Benfica took advantage of that and drew evel on points with Braga
at the top, leaving Porto trailing by four points. The championship is not over by any means, but it will be a massive psychological boost for Benfica, who have been a little shakey of late.
Porto's Hulk and Sapunaru, who was sub and did not leave the bench during the game, both saw red cards after the final whistle for incidents in the tunnel, allegedly involving security
personnel.
Benfica: Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, David Luiz, César Peixoto, Javier Garcia, Ramires (Filipe Menezes 72), Carlos Martins (Luís Filipe 66), Urreta (Weldon 66), Saviola, Cardozo.
FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Álvaro Cardozo, Fernando, Guarín (Varela 46), Raul Meireles (Belluschi 78), Hulk (Farias 77), Rodriguez, Falcao
Nacional and Académica fought a furious battle in Madeira, Nacional coming out 4-3
winners in front of 1,227. Mateus was first on the score-sheet on two minutes, tiero equalised for Académica on nine, and Ruben Micael put Nacional back in front on 35. In the second half, Edgar Silva extended Nacional's lead on 51, Sougou pulled one back for the Students on 57, Amuneke made it 4-2 on 65 and Miguel Fidalgo scored against his old club on 73. Nacional take fourth spot, three points ahead of Sporting, while Académica are 12th.
Nacional: Bracalli, Patacas, Felipe Lopes, Tomasevic, Nuno Pinto, Cléber, Rúben Micael (Halliche 89), Leandro Salino, Pecnik, Mateus (Amuneke 45), Edgar Silva (João Aurélio 68).
Académica:
Rui Nereu, Pedrinho, Amoreirinha, Berger, Emídio Rafael (Lito 72), Nuno Coelho (Miguel Fidalgo 54), Tiero, Cris, João Ribeiro (Hélder Cabral 54), Sougou, Ederzito.
Vitória de Setúbal
did themselves a power of good by beating high-flying Marítimo 3-2 at the Bonfim. André Pinto gave the home side the lead on 14 minutes, but Alonso equalised for the Maderian side from the spot a minute
later. Keita, however, scored just before the break to take Vitória into the changing rooms 2-1 up. João Guilherme equalised for Marítimo again on the hour, and it looked like the game was heading for a draw until
Keita found the net on the stroke of time for his second … although some observers gave it as an own goal by Alonso. The result takes Vitória out of the relegation zone and into 11th place. Maritimo are 8th.
Vitória de Setúbal:
Mário Felgueiras, Collin, Zarabi, André Pinto, Ruben Lima, Sandro, Djikiné, Álvaro Fernandez (Kazmierczak 75), Hélder Barbosa, Paulo Regula (Luís Carlos 64), Keita (Ivo Pinto 91).
Marítimo: Peçanha,
Paulo Jorge, João Guilherme, Fernando (Robson 46), Alonso, Roberto Sousa, Bruno (Taka 76), Marcinho, Manú, Baba, Djalma (Briguel 88).
União de Leiria beat Belenenses 1-0 in front of 891 (!) spectators at the Municipal Stadium in Leiria, Cássio on target on 63 minutes. Speaking after the game, Belenenses coach João Carlos Pereir
said: "Belenenses are doing a fine job." Later in the evening, he was sacked. Belenenses are second from bottom; União jump to 6th, just a point behind Sporting.
União de Leiria: Djuricic, Paulo Vinicius, Mamadou Tall, Bruno Miguel, Ronny, André Santos, Marco Soares, Silas (Carlão 62; Cervantes 89), Pateiro (Elias 80), Tiago Luís, Cássio.
Belenenses: Bruno Vale, Mano, Beto, Diakité, Tiago Gomes, Gávillan, Péle (Fredy 65), Barge, Ivan (Dani 88), Lima, Yontcha.
20/12/09
Sporting beat Naval 1-0
away on Saturday in a scrappy game, not helped by a pitch in very poor conditions. Sporting once again proved that they have a lot of work to do to find some kind of rhythm and spark, both missing on Saturday. But the win takes them up to fourth in the table, 12 points behind Braga at the top.
For the one goal of the game, Liedson headed down a Moutinho cross for Saleiro
to bundle the ball in from close range on 35 minutes. Sporting could have made the win a little more comfortable, but their aim was generally off and they were up against Peiser, possibly the best 'keeper in the Liga at the moment: the Frenchaman made good saves from Postiga, Adrien and Izmailov near the end as Sporting put some consistent pressure on for a change. The match was watched by just 2,167 on a cold night in Figueira da Foz.
Naval: Peiser, Carlitos, Gómis, Diego Ângelo, Daniel Cruz (Davide 75), Alex Hauw, Lazaroni (Bolívia 64), Godemèche, Marinho, Kerrouche (Simplício 66), Camora.
Sporting: Rui Patrício,
Abel, Carriço, Tonel, Grimi, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho, Adrien, Izmailov (Matias 90), Saleiro (Postiga 75), Liedson (Pereirinha 90).
In front of 10,525, Vitória de Guimarães beat Rio Ave
at home by the same score and jumped from 9th to 5th in the table in the process. Andrézinho
curled in a free kick from the edge of the box on 52 minutes to give the home side the points, although it was Rio Ave who actually had the best chances to score.
Vitória de Guimarães: Nilson, Andrezinho, Gustavo Lazzaretti, Moreno, Milhazes (Lionn 83), Custódio, João Alves, Desmarets (Douglas 69), Nuno Assis, Targino (Marquinho 92), Roberto.
Rio Ave: Carlos, José Gomes, Gaspar, Fábio Faria, Sílvio, André Vilas Boas (Adriano 76), Wires, Vítor Gomes (Tarantini 54), Bruno Gama, Chidi (Sidnei 64), João Tomás.
19/12/09
Sporting Braga confirmed that they will spend Christmas in top spot in the Liga with a 1-0 win at Paços de Ferreira. It was an even game, and either side could have come out as
winner. But it was a single goal from Meyong
in added time before the break that decided it, the Cameroonian international (he will be absent in January because of the African Nations Cup) heading in at the near post after a run down the left and cross from full back Evaldo. Braga were more interested in defendng their lead than increasing it in the second half, but Paços were generally unable to unlock the Braga defence, and when they did, Eduardo was in solid form to keep them out.
Paços de Ferreira: Cássio, Baiano, Ozeia, Danielson, Kelly, Pedrinha, Leonel Olímpio, Filipe Anunciação, Leandro (Diarra 78), William, Maykon
Sporting Baga: Eduardo, João Pereira, Moisés, Rodríguez, Evaldo, Madrid, Hugo Viana (Filipe Oliveira 86), Mossoró (Paulão 84), Alan, Meyong (Matheus 74), Paulo César.
15/12/09
Vitória de Guimarães beat Belenenses 1-0 in Lisbon on Monday to close the 13th jornada. It was a scrappy first half but the game improved in the second, with more open play and chances
at either end. Roberto
came on as sub on the hour and scored with his first touch, finishing off a Douglas lay-off. Celestino, also on as sub on 67 minutes, wasted Belenenses' best chance four minutes later, blasting the ball out of the ground from five metres. At the end of the game, there was some contestation of Belenenses coach João Carlos Pereira from the meagre crowd. Vitória climb to ninth while Belenenses are in 13th, just two points ahead of 'red lantern' Vitória de Setúbal.
Belenenses: Nélson, Mano, Beto, Rodrigo Arroz, Barge, Gabriel Gomez, André Almeida, Pelé (Celestino 67), Ivan (Fredy 63), Lima, Yontcha
Vitória de Guimarães:
Nilson, Alex, Moreno, Gustavo Lazaretti, Andrezinho, Custódio, João Alves, Rui Miguel (Roberto 60), Desmarets, Targino, Douglas
14/12/09
Champions FC Porto comfortably beat bottom club Vitória de Setúbal 2-0
on Sunday, moving to within one point of the leaders Sporting Braga and Benfica in the process. Porto started strongly and rattled the woodwork on two occasions through Belluschi and Raúl Meireles before a long pass from Fucile on 23 minutes found
Farías who got the better of the two central defenders before turning to clip the ball home. Three minutes later, the ball was cleared badly from a corner and Varela, on the edge of the box, had time
to tee himself up before volleying in. Setúbal coach Manuel Fernandes admitted afterwards that from then on it became a question of limiting the damage, and with more committed defending and Porto taking their foot
off, they did manage to keep the result down to 2-0. Porto take on Benfica at the Luz next weekend.
FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Fucile (Rodriguez 68), Belluschi, Fernando, Raul Meireles (Guarín 74), Varela, Farías, Hulk (Mariano 80)
Vitória de Setúbal: Mário
Felgueiras, Collin, Zoro (Ivo Pinto 84), Zarabi, Alan (Regula 48), Djikiné, Sandro, Alvaro Fernandez, Ruben Lima, Luís Carlos (Rui Fonte 55), Keita
Top club Sporting Braga could only draw 0-0
to a super-defensive Naval, the first points that Braga have dropped at home. Braga dominated play, while Naval relied exclusively on counter-attacks. Rodriguez and Meyong came close for Braga in the first
half, while Naval's best chance fell for Marinho. In the second half, Peiser performed well to stop efforts from Vandinho and Matheus, and Rodriguez and Matheus
both missed clear chances to score. Near the end, Simplício hit the bar for Naval, but if it had gone in, it would have been a great injustice.
Braga stay equal top with Benfica, while Naval move into 9th.
Sporting Braga:
Eduardo, João Pereira, Moisés, Rodriguez, Evaldo, Vandinho, Hugo Viana, Mossoró (Osvaldo 82), Alan, Paulo César (Matheus 63), Meyong (Adriano 63).
Naval:
Peiser, Carlitos, Real, Diego Ângelo, Camora, Godemèche, Lazaroni, Alex Hauw, Baradji (Davide 89), Kerrouche (Michel Simplício 71), Marinho.
The team that were fifth, Marítimo, were beaten 0-1 at home to Rio Ave, who join them on 19 points. Central defender Gaspar
prodded in the only goal on 21 minutes after a goalmouth scramble following a corner. It was Marítimo's first defeat in seven games and coach Mitchell Van Der Gaag's first defeat with the Madeiran side, and it was Rio Ave's first win in four games.
Marítimo: Peçanha, Paulo Jorge, João Guilherme, Fernando (Robson 32), Briguel, Roberto Sousa, Bruno (Kléber 69), Marcinho, Manú (Taka 75), Baba, Djalma
Rio Ave: Carlos, Zé Gomes, Gaspar, Fábio Faria, Sílvio, André Vilas Boas, Wires, Vítor Gomes (Ricardo Chaves, 64), Bruno Gama (Evandro 87), Chidi (Sidnei 56), João Tomás
Académica beat luckless Leixões 2-0 in Coimbra, with goals from Emídio Rafael on nine minutes and Lito
a quarter of an hour from time. Leixões were hobbled by Jean Sony being sent off for a second yellow after just 20 minutes.
Académica move to 11th, while Leixões remain in trouble in 14th.
Académica: Rui Nereu, Pedrinho, Amoreirinha, Berger, Emídio Rafael, Nuno Coelho (Lito 63), Tiero, Cris, João Ribeiro (Diogo Gomes 70), Sougou (Hélder Cabral 84), Éder.
Leixões: Diego, Gallo, Tucka, Joel, Laranjeiro, Fernando Alexandre, Hugo Morais (Fábio Espinho 64) Seabra, Wenio (Zé Manuel 46), Jean Sony, Faioli (Tiago Cintra 68).
13/12/09
Struggling Olhanense came within a whisker of beating an off-colour Benfica on Saturday and must ultimately have felt frustrated to concede a 2-2 draw. Carlos Fernandes put
Olhanense in front, knocking the ball in at the back post from a free-kick by Rui Duarte. On the half hour, Saviola turned in a Di Maria corner, but three minutes later, former Benfica player Toy
headed in another rui Duarte free kick to give Olhanenese the lead once again. Deep into added time at the end of the game, howevver, Weldon crossed, Luisão headed down and Nuno Gomes
squeezed the ball past Ventura to give Benfica a point.
It was a bad tempered match on and off the pitch. There was trouble in the stands and in the town of alhão after the game, while three players saw red during the game: Djalmir (25 minutes) and
Miguel Garcia (90) for Olhanense, Di Maria (42) for Benfica. Di Maria misses nect weekend's game against FC Porto, along with Fábio Coentrão, who saw a fifth yellow. Ramires will also miss the game
after injuring a leg.
Olhanense: Ventura, Miguel Garcia, Sandro, Anselmo, Carlos Fernandes, Castro (Tengarrinha 88), Rui Baião, Rui Duarte, Toy (Zequinha 77), Djalmir, Ukra (Paulo Sérgio 75)
Benfica:
Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, David Luiz, César Peixoto (Weldon 59), Javi García, Ramires (Felipe Menezes 45) Fábio Coentrão (Nuno Gomes 80), Di Maria, Saviola, Cardozo
After striker Cássio had headed against the bar, central defender Paulo Vinicius headed in from a corner on 27 minutes, with Sporting 'keeper Rui Patrício all at sea, to give
União de Leiria
their first win at Alvalade. It was Sporting's first defeat under Carlos Carvalhal. Sporting had their chances to score, escpecially in the second half and especially through liedson, but Djuricic was always on hand to thwart.
Sporting: Rui Patrício, Abel, Carriço, Polga, Caneira (Adrien 46), Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho, Izmailov, Matías Fernandez (Pereirinha 46), Vukcevic (Hélder Postiga 72), Liedson
União de Leiria: Djuricic, Mamadou Tall, Bruno Miguel, Paulo Vinícius, Ronny, Marco Soares, André Santos, Silas (Hugo Gomes 88), Pateiro (Elias 95), Tiago Luís (Pedro Cervantes 61), Cássio
12/12/09
Paços de Ferreira beat high-flying Nacional 2-1 on Friday openeing the 13th jornada. Paços were in front on 41 minutes, Felipe Lopes failing to cut out a long ball that fell for William
who ran on to drive the ball over Bracali. Ten minutes into the second half, Mateus appeared on the left and crossed low for Amuneke to tap in at the back post. But on 62 minutes, Paços were in front again,
William getting his second on the counter attack. Nacional remain fourth while Paços are seven points behind in 10th.
Paços de Ferreira:
Cássio, Baiano, Ozeia, Danielson, Jorginho (Leandrinho 45), Leonel Olímpico, Filipe Anunciação, Pedrinha, Roncatto (Ciel 59), William (Fábio Pacheco 90), Maycon
Nacional:
Bracali, Patacas, Felipe Lopes, Halliche, Nuno Pinto, Cléber, Leandro Salino (Amuneke 54, João Aurélio 72), Pecknik, Ruben Micael, Edgar Silva (Anselmo 66), Mateus.
08/12/09
Liedson
got two goals, one early, one late, as Sporting won 2-0 at Vitória de Setúbal on Monday. Sporting were lively in the first half, with Izmailov starting, but fizzled out as the game wore on. On four minutes, Matías Fernandes put a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Liedson, who shot from the edge of the area. Then three minutes from time, Liedson was offside from a long ball, the referee did not give it, the ball crossesd the goal line, Setúbal 'keeper Nuno Santos tapped it back into midfield for the supposed free-kick,
Liedson could not believe his luck and poked it back into the open net; a curious goal. Sporting go 5th, while Vitória stay rock bottom.
Vitória de Setúbal: Nuno Santos, Zarabi, Zoro, André Pinto, Rúben Lima, Sandro, Djikiné, Luís Carlos, Álvaro Fernandez, Alan, Keita.
Sporting:
Rui Patrício, Abel, Daniel Carriço, Polga, Caneira, Adrien, João Moutinho, Izmailov, Matias Fernandes, Miguel Veloso, Liedson.
Nacional
gave coach Manuel Machado, recovering in a Madeiran hospital from a post-surgery infection, an early Christmas present with a 2-1 victory in Leiria. They went in front on 17 minutes through Edgar Silva,
Pateiro equalised early in the second half but Nacional stole the points with a goal from Felipe Lopes eight minutes from time.
União de Leiria: Djuricic, Hugo Gomes, Bruno Miguel, Mamadou Tall, Paulo Vinícius (Ronny 45), André Santos, Elias, Pateiro, Silas (Ouattara 77), Carlão (Tiago Luís 54), Cássio.
Nacional:
Bracali, Patacas, Halliche, Filipe Lopes, Nuno Pinto, Cléber, Luís Alberto, Ruben Micael (Salino 79), Pecnik (João Aurélio 77), Mateus, Edgar Silva (Amuneke 84).
07/12/09
Benfica moved back equal top of the Liga on Sunday after disposing of Académica 4-0 in front of 41,206 at a very soggy Luz as the heavens opened over Lisbon. Benfica's spearhead of
Cardozo and Saviola
proved the key. On just six minutes, the Paraguayan combined with the Argentinian before slotting the ball past the stranded Nereu. It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Académica from then on, but they seemed to get their bearings and launched several dangerous attacks. Whether this was Benfica being permissive or not is another question, as they always seemed capable of switching up a gear to create danger around the Académica goal. On the half hour, it was
Saviola who did the damage, finding space to chip Nereu from the edge of the box for the goal of the match and possibly of the season.
In increasingly difficult conditions, Académica's counter-attacks were proving damp squibs, and on 54 minutes, Cardozo
got his second to make it 3-0, heading into an empty goal after Nereu could only parry a Di Maria shot from outside the box. The scoreline assumed goleada proportions on 68 minutes when the lanky Paraguayan international got his hat-trick, heading in a Di Maria free-kick. Benfica catch
Braga, who could only draw 1-1 at Leixões on Saturday.
Benfica: Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, David Luiz, César Peixoto, Ruben Amorim, Ramires, Di María, Pablo Aimar (Fábio Coentrão 77), Saviola (Weldon 68), Cardozo (Nuno Gomes 83).
Académica: Rui Nereu, Pedrinho, Berger, Orlando, Emídio Rafael, Nuno Coelho (Vouho 59), Cris, Tiero, Sougou (Miguel Pedro 59), João Ribeiro (Diogo Gomes 72), Éder.
Marítimo beat struggling Olhanense 5-2 in Funchal but did not have everythiung their own way. They were in front on 13 minutes through Djalma, but Djalmir
equalised on the stroke of half time with a header. Early in the second half, Bruno scored with a free-kick, but once again Olhanense came back, Tengarrinha
netting from long range. The game was decided in a fatal 12 minutes for Olhanense: Alonso put away a penalty on 68 minutes, and Baba
added two on 76 and 80. Maritimo move porvisionally to fourth, while Olhanense remain second from bottom.
06/12/09
Sporting Braga held on to top spot in the Liga on Saturday after drawing 1-1 at struggling Leixões, in Matosinhos on the outskirts of Porto. It was a filthy night in the north
of Portugal – high winds and torrential rain – which hampered Braga's normally neat build ups. And the sodden pitch gave Leixões the lead on 32 minutes as a long back pass from Moisés
crept under Eduardo's right boot and skimmed into the corner of the goal. To Sporting Braga's credit, they continued to try to play football, against ten men from 50 minutes after Braga saw a second yellow, and their perseverance paid off two minutes from time when
Alan cracked home a shot from an acute angle on the right of the goal.
Leixões: Diego, Laranjeiro, Joel, Tucker, Bruno Gallo, Wénio, Fernando Alexandre, Hugo Morais, Braga, Faioli (José Manuel 68), Seabra (Rúben 81).
Sporting Braga:
Eduardo, João Pereira, Moisés, Rodriguez (Yazalde 62), Evaldo, Vandinho, Madrid (Hugo Viana 46), Alan, Mossoró, Paulo César, Meyong (Matheus 46).
Conditions were even worse a little further north in Vila do Conde, where Rio Ave and Belenenses
ground out a 0-0 draw on a pond of a pitch. The game should perhaps never have started, but it did and reached the end, Belenenses grabbing a valuable point in their bid to get away from the relegation zone.
Rio Ave: Carlos, José Gomes, Gaspar, Fábio Faria, Sílvio, Vilas Boas, Wires, Ricardo Chaves, Chidi, João Tomás, Bruno Gama.
Belenenses:
Nelson, Mano, Beto, Diakité, Barge, Gabriel Gomez, Pele, André Almeida, Celestino, Fredy, Lima.
In the other Liga game on Saturday, Naval beat Paços de Ferreira at home 1-0 in front of just 654 spectators. The only goal came on 26 minutes, Diego Ângelo
heading in a Camora free-kick.
Naval: Peiser, Carlitos, Gómis, Diego Ângelo, Daniel Cruz, Godemèche, Bolívia (Lazaroni 68), Baradji (Alex Hauw 65), Camora, Kerrouche (Tandia 87), Marinho.
Paços de Ferreira: Cássio, Baiano, Ricardo, Danielson, Maykon, Filipe Anunciação (José Coelho 77), Olímpio, Pedrinha (Carlitos 45), Jorginho (Leandrinho 58), Roncatto, William.
05/12/09
An in-form FC Porto inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat on Vitória de Guimarães
on Friday, but the result did not really reflect what happened on the pitch. Vitória did have a poor first half and were two down in half an hour. Nuno Assis lost the ball in midfield on 12 minutes and Varela
strode on unchallenged before cracking a shot past Nilson from just inside the area, and Falcao tapped in from close range following a Raul Meireles free-kick on 32. Andrezinho
curled in a free kick just before the break to put Vitória back in it, and in the second half they dominated early on and had several chances to turn the game around, notably through Nuno Assis on two occasions and Moreno. But it was
Bruno Alves that killed the game on 66 minutes, popping up at the back post to rifle home a long ball, and Rodriguez
was given time and room to pick his spot on 87 minutes to round it off for Porto, who go provisionally second.
Vitória de Guimarães: Nilson, Alex (Rui Miguel 77), Moreno, Gustavo Lazzaretti, Andrezinho, João Alves (Roberto 71), Nuno Assis, Flávio Meireles, Targino, Douglas, Desmarets
FC Porto:
Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Álvaro Pereira, Belluschi (Hulk 57), Fernando, Raul Meireles, Varela, Falcao (Guarín 57), Rodriguez.
|
