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28/02/09
Not for the first time this season, on Friday Benfica were outclassed by their visitors, this time Leixões
in front of 31,400 at the Luz. The northern team looked the more organised throughout but lacked teeth up front. They scored first but unfortunately for them it was in their own net, central defender Élvis
trying to put a low Reyes cross round the post but scoring instead. Benfica looked to be coasting on 67 minutes when Cardozo crossed from the right for Nuno Gomes, on as sub, to head home from close range.
They were made to sweat for the last 15 minutes when Rodrigo Silva netted, but Benfica hung on to the three points with a 2-1 win.
The teams lined up:
Benfica: Moreira, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Miguel Vítor, David Luiz, Di Maria (Balboa 71), Ruben Amorim (Carlos Martins 37), Katsouranis, Reyes (Nuno Gomes 60), Aimar, Cardozo.
Leixões: Beto, Laranjeiro, Nuno Silva, Elvis, Angulo, Bruno China (Chumbinho 78), Hugo Morais, Roberto Sousa, Zé Manel (Sony 61), Braga (Rodrigo 39), Diogo Valente.
24/02/09
Leixões missed the chance to go equal second with Benfica and Sporting in the Liga when they dropped two points at home to Belenenses on Monday (2-2). José Pedro
put the visitors in front from the spot on 26 minutes, with Rodrigo Silva equalising four minutes later. Gabriel Gómez gave Belenenses the lead again just before the break, but Zé Manel
at least salvaged a point for Leixões with a header a quarter of an hour from the end.
The teams lined up:
Leixões: Beto, Laranjeiro, Nuno Silva, Élvis, Angulo (Roberto 65), Bruno China, Hugo Morais, Chumbinho (Ruben 46), Braga (Zé Manuel 46), Rodrigo Silva, Diogo Valente.
Belenenses:
Júlio César, Mano, Zarabi, Ávalos, Tininho, Diakité, Gabriel Gomez (Pelé 82), José Pedro (Carciano 65), Silas, Vinicius, Wender (Marcelo 72).
23/02/09
Sporting Braga climbed to 5th in the Liga with a 2-1 win at Naval
on Sunday. Eduardo saved a Bolívia penalty in the first half that would have given Naval the lead, but it was Renteria
who opened the scoring early in the second half, heading in after a long throw from the right by João Pereira. Marinho
put Naval level seven minutes from time, knocking the ball in at the back post after a cross from the right by Dudu. But it was João Pereira
who gave Braga the points in added time, starting and finishing off a passing move through the heart of the Naval defence.
Naval: Peiser, Carlitos (Dudu 55), Paulão, Diego, Daniel Cruz, Godeméche (Baradji 72), Davide (Marcelinho 55), Alex Hauw, Bolívia, Marinho, Simplício.
Sporting de Braga: Eduardo, João Pereira, Frechaut, André Leone, Evaldo, Vandinho, Alan (Matheus 45), Luís Aguiar, Mossoró (Stélvio 82), Orlando Sá (Paulo César 68), Renteria.
Braga leapfrogged over Nacional after the Madeiran side went own to surprising Estrela da Amadora, a second-half goal by Jardel giving Estrela a win that takes them to 9th.
Nacional's Madeiran neighbours Marítimo also found themselves treading water after going down 1-3 at Académica. Luís Nunes put Académica in front on five minutes, Baba
equalised on 33 and Lito restored Académica's lead just before half-time. Licá wrapped it up for Os Estudantes two minutes from time. The result puts Marítimo 7th and Académica 10th.
There were white hankerchiefs out at the end of the evening game, where Vitória de Guimarães continued with their poor form and lost all three points to bottom club Trofense. The impressive
Charles Chad scored his first goal of the season and the only goal of the game fifteen minutes from time, allowing his club to climb to 12th, while Guimarães are a disappointing 8th, five points behind Marítimo.
22/02/09
Sporting won an intense Lisbon derby, the 278th, on Saturday, beating Benfica 3-2. It was an even first half, the teams going in at 1-1: on ten minutes, Liedson
found himself free at the back of the penalty area after a corner and faulty clearance, and his half-volley span into the top left-hand corner of the goal; on 36 minutes, Reyes
scored from the spot after Anderson Polga had brought down Suazo. Both sides could have scored more: Yebda's header scraped a post on 24 minutes, and an Izmailov shot was blocked by Maxi Pereira using his arm on 40.
An even second half was in prospect, but it did not turn out that way; Sporting dominated the half with organised team football, while Benfica were relying (misguidedly, as it happened) on sparks of genius
from players like Suazo, Aimar and Reyes, and later Di Maria and Cardozo. Derlei coolly finished off an Izmailov long ball on 47 minutes, and ten minutes from time, Liedson
headed home after great work and a cross for Pereirinha on the right. It looked all over, but Cardozo
gave Benfica a last bit of hope a minute from time with a header from a Maxi cross. it was too late, however, and if the truth be told, Benfica did not deserve any more.
Both sides are now four points behind leaders FC Porto, who Sporting visit next weekend.
Sporting: Tiago, Pedro Silva, Daniel Carriço, Polga, Grimi, Rochemback, Izmailov (Tonel 92), Vukcevic (Bruno Pereirinha 73), João Moutinho, Hélder Postiga (Derlei 27), Liedson.
Benfica: Moreira, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Luisão, David Luiz, Katsouranis, Yebda (Di Maria 58), Ruben Amorim (Nuno Gomes 79), Reyes, Aimar, Suazo (Cardozo 66).
A goal on the hour from Yazalde gave Rio Ave a rare win, 1-0, against Vitória de Setúbal. Rio Ave jump out of the relegation zone into 12th, while Vitória totter
precariously three places from bottom.
21/02/09
FC Porto guaranteed their top spot in the Liga on Friday, winning 2-0 at Paços de Ferreira. Porto dominated for the first half hour and were in front on 16 minutes, Cissokho
feeding Hulk, whose powerful shot from just outside the box was deflected over Coelho and in. In the second half, Paços managed to fight toe to toe with Porto, but the game was up on 65 minutes when the
referee gave a penalty against Paços, deeming that Ricardo had brought Hulk down; the television pictures showed that Ricardo had first cleared the ball before touching the Porto forward. Bruno Alves
scored from the spot. To add to Paços' woes, Carlos Carneiro was adjudged to have handled when an André Pinto header found the net; it could have meant a comeback for Paços, but they did not score, and they could not find a way back into the game.
The teams lines up:
Paços de Ferreira: Coelho, Danielson (Leandro Tatu, 80), Ricardo, Kelly, Jorginho, Dedé, Ferreira, Pedrinha, Rui Miguel, Edson (Carlos Carneiro, 71), André Pinto.
FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Fernando (Mariano 82), Tomás Costa, Raul Meireles (Lucho 69), Lisandro, Hulk, Farías (Rodriguéz 62).
17/02/09
Vitória de Setúbal returned to wins at home on Monday, beating Académica 2-1. Central defender Robson put them in front early in the second half, Lito
equalised for Académica on 83 minutes but there was still time for Laionel to get a winner five minutes from time.
16/02/09
FC Porto kept top spot in the Liga with a 3-1 win at home to bottom club Rio Ave. The result was a little misleading, however, as the visitors kept Porto at bay for forty minutes, went
behind to a dubious penalty (a 'foul' on Farias by Gaspar, converted by Lucho González), drew level with a brilliant curved shot from Fábio Coentrão
on 72 minutes and only succumbed in the last five to two goals from Ernesto Farías.
The teams lined up:
FC Porto: Helton, Fucile (Tomás Costa 46), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho (Lisandro Lopez 74), Fernando, Raul Meireles, Lucho Gonzalez, Mariano Gonzalez (Cristian Rodriguez 59), Hulk, Ernesto Farias.
Rio Ave: Paiva, Miguel Lopes, Gaspar, Bruno Mendes, Rogério Matias, Delson, Niquinha, Livramento (Tarantini 70), Evandro (Candeias 46), Fábio Coentrão (Edson 77), Yazalde.
Benfica kept in touch with their northern rivals but had a similarly hard job to beat Paços de Ferreira at the Luz. Cardozo
tapped Benfica into the lead on 69 minutes after Cassio had dropped the ball into his path. Just four minutes later, Ruben Amorim
curled a shot into the top right hand corner from outside the area, and the game looked over. But it needed just three more minutes for Ferreira
to beat Moreira, and there was a game on again. In a thrilling finale, Di Maria scored with a looping shot from the right, but then Chico Silva
made it 3-2 in added time. Benfica might have dropped points if a shot by Kelly had not hit the post in the dying seconds.
The teams lined up:
Benfica: Moreira, David Luiz, Luisão, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro, Katsouranis, Ruben Amorim, Carlos Martins (Di Maria 56), Reyes, Aimar (Mantorras 90), Óscar Cardozo (Nuno Gomes 79).
Paços de Ferreira: Cássio, Danielson, Ricardo, Kelly, Jorginho (Chico Silva 83), Dedé, Pedrinha, Ferreira, Rui Miguel, Cristiano (Leandro Tatu 26), Edson (André Pinto 76).
Naval were two-nil up after half an hour at Trofense through Diego Ângelo and Marinho, but Valdemiro pulled one back shortly afterwards and diminutive sub Rui Borges
gave Trofense a point on the hour.
15/02/09
Sporting managed a 2-1 win at Belenenses on Saturday, keeping their titles hopes flickering. Belenenses were actually in front on 52 minutes, Marcelo
heading in from an offside position, but the entry of Hélder Postiga as sub turned it around for Sporting. The striker fed Vukcevic for a simple tap-in on 75 minutes, and four minutes later Postiga
scored himself with a delicate chip over Júlio César, who had gone down for the block.
The teams lined up:
Belenenses: Júlio César, Cândido Costa, Ávalos, Rodrigo Arroz (Marcelo 46), Carciano, Tininho (Roncatto 85), Diakité, Mano, Silas, José Pedro, Saulo (Vinicius Pacheco 82).
Sporting: Tiago, Pedro Silva (Marco Caneira 85), Daniel Carriço, Polga, Miguel Veloso, Rochemback (Yannick Djaló 63), Adrien, Izmailov, Derlei (Hélder Postiga 72), Vuckcevic, Liedson.
Leixões went third with an excellent win at Sporting Braga, helped by an unfortunate own goal from Braga captain Fréchaut, who headed in spectacularly on 79 minutes.
Marítimo beat Estrela da Amadora in Madeira with a single goal from Ytalo three minutes into the second half.
14/02/09
Nacional climbed provisionally to third in the Liga on Friday with an impressive 3-0 win over Vitória de Guimarães. That man again Nené
got the first two goals around the hour mark (taking his tally to 14 for the season) and Ruben Micael sealed the win on 75 minutes.
The teams lined up:
Nacional: Rafael Bracalli, Patacas, Felipe Lopes, Maicon, Alonso, Cléber, Bruno Amaro (Leandro Salino 72), Ruben Micael, Luís Alberto, Fabiano (Mateus 61), Nené (Miguel Fidalgo 79).
Vitória de Guimarães: Serginho, Lionn, Gregory, Moreno, Andrezinho, Flávio Meireles (João Alves 66), Custódio, Fajardo (Santana 66), Nuno Assis, Luís Filipe, Marquinho.
10/02/09
Lowly teams Paços de Ferreira and Belenenses drew 1-1 on Monday in the game that wrapped up the 17th jornada. Saulo put Belenenses in front from a José Pedro cross, while
Cristiano equalised with a cross shot on 22 minutes. The teams are respectively 12th and 13th in the table, separated by one point.
The teams lined up:
Paços de Ferreira: Cássio, Filipe Anunciação (André Pinto 80), Kiko, Kelly, Jorginho, Ricardo, Ferreira, Pedrinha, Rui Miguel, Edson (Carlos Carneiro 62), Cristiano (Filipe Gonçalves 86).
Belenenses:
Júlio César, Cândido Costa, Ávalos, Carciano, Tininho, Mano, Diakité, José Pedro (Gabriel Gomez 86), Silas, Saulo (Roncatto 88), Marcelo (Vinícius 60).
09/02/09
Benfica snatched a point at FC Porto on Sunday with a 1-1
draw, but they might well have come away with all three. Looking a much more together outfit than in recent games, Benfica were more than a match for lacklustre Porto, although the home side could have gone in front on several occasions, notably through Lucho González and Lisandro López. But Benfica it was that went in front,
Yebda
heading in from a corner by Reyes in added time in the first half. But twenty minutes from time, Lisandro López feigned a foul by Yebda (directly in front of referee Pedro Proença) and a penalty was given;
Lucho Gonzalez drove it straight down the middle to leave Porto at the top, one point ahead of Benfica and four ahead of Sporting and Leixões.
The teams lined up:
FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Fernando, Raul Meireles (Mariano 65), Lucho, Rodriguez, Hulk, Lisandro (Farias 89).
Benfica: Moreira, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Sidnei, David Luiz, Yebda, Katsouranis, Ruben Amorim, Aimar (Carlos Martins 93), Reyes (Nuno Gomes 86), Suazo (Di Maria 62).
Sporting lost 2-3 at home to Sporting Braga, who climb into fifth place. The two teams were keeping faithful to their records as best defences in the Liga until the hour mark when
Meyong netted after the ball had come back off the post. Ten minutes later, Moutinho and Veloso, returning after his failed attempt to be transferred to Bolton, made a chance for Derlei
that he snapped up to equalise. Another ten minutes went by and Renteria put Braga back in front, fed by Luís Aguiar. Shortly afterwards, Braga extended the lead through Mossoró
with a lob that appeared to be cleared off the line, but the linesman was well placed and adjudged it to have entered. Izmailov
cracked home a shot from the edge of the box in added time, but it was too late for Sporting to turn the game round. It was their third consecutive league game without a win.
Sporting: Rui Patrício, Abel (Pedro Silva 81), Daniel Carriço, Polga, Caneira (Miguel Veloso 45), Rochemback, Pereirinha (Tiuí 61), Izmailov, João Moutinho, Vukcevic, Derlei.
Sporting de Braga: Eduardo, João Pereira, Moisés (Frechaut 91), Leone, Evaldo, Alan, Luis Aguiar, Vandinho, César Peixoto (Matheus 77), Meyong (Mossoró 66), Renteria.
Braga share fifth spot with Nacional, who destroyed Naval 4-0 away. The Liga's top scorer Nené
snatched two more in the first half hour to set the Madeiran side on their way, while Ruben Micael and Mateus added to Naval's woes in the second half. Naval are tenth.
Vitória de Guimarães climbed to eighth with a 2-1 victory over Marítimo, their first league home win for two months. Fajardo and Nuno Assis gave Vitória a cushion, with
Baba reducing the lead five minutes from time. Marítimo are in seventh, three points behind Madeiran neighbours Nacional.
Bottom club Rio Ave kept their survival hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Académica, Yazalde, on loan from Braga, getting the only goal on 17 minutes. Académica are 11th,
while just two points separate the bottom five: Paços de Ferreira, Belenenses, Trofense, Vitória de Setúbal and Rio Ave. Paços and Belenenses play on Monday.
08/02/09
Two crisis-torn clubs, Estrela da Amadora and Vitória de Setúbal, played out what was reportedly one of the worst games of the season so far, each coming away with a point from Saturday's
0-0 draw. Estrela remain in mid table, with Vitória stuck in the second relegation slot, just above Rio Ave.
07/02/09
Leixões broke a seven game run without a win on Friday, beating Trofense 2-0 at home. Chumbinho
got both the goals: the first on 37 minutes was a free-kick from out wide that beat Paulo Lopes at the near post; on 75 minutes, he took advantage of a mistake by Valdomiro to hit home. The result consolidates Leixões' fourth place, while Trofense hover just above the drop zone.
The teams lined up:
Leixões: Beto, Laranjeiro, Nuno Silva, Élvis, Angulo, Bruno China, Hugo Morais, Chumbinho (Sandro 89), Braga (Ruben 63), Rodrigo Silva, Diogo Valente (Zé Manuel 74).
Trofense: Paulo Lopes, Varela, Miguel Ângelo, Valdomiro, Tiago Pinto, Milton do Ó, Delfim (Charles 58), Mércio, Hugo Leal (Pinheiro 72), Hélder Barbosa, Reguila (Dagil 72).
02/02/09
FC Porto are top of the Liga again after winning 3-1 at Belenenses
on Sunday. On a difficult pitch, it was Porto who managed to control the game in the first half and went ahead on 21 minutes through Hulk, after a cross by Mariano. Just two minutes later, it looked over
when Cristian Rodriguez headed in a Lucho González cross, but Porto let Belenenses back in the game and saw their lead cut on 35 minutes, José Pedro cutting a ball back for Saulo
to score. Belenenses put Porto under some pressure in the second half, but to no avail, and it was Porto who extended their lead, Lucho stroking in a goal after a through pass from compatriot Lisandro López.
Fucile forced a second yellow and a red near the end so that he could sit out a suspension in the Taça da Liga game at Sporting midweek and be able to play against Benfica
in the league next weekend.
The teams lined up:
Belenenses: Júlio César, Cândido Costa (Ávalos 30), Rodrigo Arroz, Carciano, Tininho, Diakité, Mano, Silas, José Pedro, Wender (Saulo 30), Marcelo (Roncatto 65).
FC Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Fernando, Mariano (Farías 64), Raúl Meireles (Guarin 80), Lucho Gonzalez, Hulk (Lisandro 86), Rodriguez.
Sporting Braga climbed to sixth in the Liga with a 2-0 home win against Paços de Ferreira, Rentaria and Meyong
on the scoresheet. Pedrinha missed a penalty for Paços on 53 minutes.
The teams lined up:
Sporting de Braga: Eduardo, João Pereira, André Leone, Frechaut, Evaldo, Vandinho, César Peixoto (Luís Aguiar 55), Mossoró (Stélvio 86), Alan, Renteria, Meyong (Orlando Sá 73).
Paços de Ferreira: Cássio, Filipe Anunciação (Carlos Carneiro 66), Tiago Valente, Ricardo, Kelly, Chico Silva (André Pinto 30), Pedrinha, Rui Miguel, Dedé, Cristiano, Edson (Ferreira 66).
Anselmo put Estrela da Amadora in front on ten minutes at Académica, with Sougou equalising just after the break. On the hour, a shot from outside the area by Lito
was deflected past Nélson to give Académica the lead, but Varela lobbed Peskovic on 71 minutes to give Estrela a point, 2-2.
Leixões drew once again, this time 0-0 at Nacional. Liga top scorer Nené came closest with a shot that pinged off the bar, but neither team could break the deadlock.
Down the hill at Marítimo, Nacional's Madeiran neighbours took all three points from Naval with a second-half goal from Paraguayan Victor Aquino, making his début. Marítimo captain
Bruno was sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow.
01/02/09
Benfica's Angolan talisman Pedro Mantorras
came off the bench for his first game of the season on Saturday and shortly afterwards scored the goal that broke the deadlock between Benfica and bottom club Rio Ave. On a pitch that resembled a marsh, and
which with the torrential rain falling on Lisbon got mushier as the game went on, it was Rio Ave that seemed to adapt best to the conditions. However, it was Benfica that came closest to scoring, Óscar Cardozo
hitting the post twice. Then finally, from a Carlos Martins cross and an assist from Cardozo, Mantorras made room for himself at close range to clip the ball in on 70 minutes.
The teams lined up:
Benfica: Moreira, Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Sidnei, David Luiz, Yebda, Ruben Amorim, Carlos Martins (Binya 80), Di Maria (Reyes 61), Nuno Gomes (Mantorras 66), Cardozo.
Rio Ave: Paiva, Miguel Lopes, Gaspar, Bruno Mendes, Rogério Matias (Pedro Moutinho 80), Niquinha, Delson, Tarantini, Evandro, Fábio Coentrão (Chidi 80), Yazalde.
Sporting could only draw 0-0 at Trofense, who put a bus in front of the goal against a Sporting attack that had enough chances to win but did not take them. Liedson headed against the
bar and would have scored on another occasion if Ismailov, in an offside position, had not got a touch to the ball just before it crossed the line. The result would later give Benfica the chance to overtake the
'Lions'. Trofense have now managed to beat Benfica and draw with FC Porto and Sporting.
The teams lined up:
Trofense: Paulo Lopes, Varela, Miguel Ângelo, Valdomiro, Areias, Milton do Ó, Hugo Leal, Delfim (Pinheiro 71), Tiago Pinto, Hélder Barbosa (Charles Chad 84), Reguila (Dagil 90).
Sporting: Rui Patrício, Abel, Daniel Carriço (Romagnoli 82), Anderson Polga, Marco Caneira, Rochemback, Izmailov, João Moutinho, Vukcevic, Liedson (Hélder Postiga 74), Derlei.
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