31/10/04 FC Porto let two points slip in Madeira Saturday. They appeared to be heading for a clear if not resounding 2-0 win over Nacional with goals from Diego
, a free-kick after only a minute, and Benni McCarthy
six minutes into the second half. But it all went pear-shaped for them in added time with two goals in quick succession, both from corners. First Bruno knocked one over from the left for Raúl Meireles
to head into his own goal, then Alexandre Goulart took one from the other side, Adriano rising to head past a helpless Baía. There were 12 yellow cards shown. Earlier, Sporting
drew within two points of Porto with their third consecutive win, this time 3-0 at a muddy Penafiel. All the goals came in the second half through Liedson (49 and 88 minutes) and Custódio
(72). 30/10/04 This weekend's SuperLiga games will be preceded by a minute's silence for Jacinto João, former Vitória de Setúbal
player and Portuguese international who died of a heart attack Friday at the age of 60. 25/10/04 Benfica returned to the top of the SuperLiga Sunday with a 2-1
win over a well-organised and difficult-to-handle Nacional. It took Benfica an hour to break down the resilient Madeiran defence, but the breakthrough came with a cracking shot from 25 metres by Karadas.
Sokota added a second twenty minutes later, diving at the near post to head in a Simão cross from the right. They must have thought it was plain-sailing from that point on, but Alexandre Goulart
scored with a speculative free kick five minutes from time to give Nacional some hope, never realised. Benni McCarthy scored both goals in FC Porto's 2-0 win over Penafiel, taking them to
15 points, one behind eternal rivals Benfica. Struggling Académica surprisingly beat high-flying Marítimo 1-0, the Madeiran side's first defeat under Mariano Barreto. Paulo Adriano
's goal on 24 minutes was enough. União de Leiria got their first away win of the season, 1-0 at Beira-Mar, Fábio Felício on 51 minutes separating the teams. Gil Vicente
remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 1-2 at Vitória de Guimarães. Silva and Bráulio got two first half goals, Júlio César
giving Gil a fighting chance with a goal on the hour. 24/10/03 Vitória de Setúbal leapt to the top of the league Saturday with a 3-2 win at Sporting Braga. A flurry
of goals mid way through the first half gave Sporting Braga a 2-1 lead at half time, their goals coming from João Tomás and Wender, cancelling out the lead established by Jorginho
. But in the second half, Vitória turned it round with goals from Manuel José (52) and Ricardo Chaves
(77). Vitória sit proudly at the top, at least until tomorrow when Benfica and Marítimo play. Braga drop one place to fifth. Sporting, meanwhile, continue with their mini-revival, a 2-0 win over
Belenenses taking them up to sixth. But they left it until very late on to decide the game: on 85 minutes, Liedson headed in from a Hugo Viana corner, and two minutes later Douala
shot home after good work from Carlos Martins. For now, coach José Peseiro's job looks safe. Rio Ave notched up their sixth draw of the season, 0-0 at Moreirense. They remain unbeaten but have
only managed one win all season. They stay mid-table while Moreirense remain just above the relegation zone. 23/10/04 Boavista
missed a great opportunity to keep up with the top teams Friday when they dropped two points at home to Estoril Praia in an interesting 0-0
draw. Estoril had come off a 1-4 home drubbing to Sporting last weekend and were certainly the inferior team in the first half when Boavista dominated, creating several chances. Estoril's Arrieta
was sent off ten minutes into the second half for a second yellow, but far from it weakening their resolve, the southern team became even more compact and organised, and dealt relatively comfortably with Boavista's superiority. Indeed, they nearly snatched a surprise win in the closing minutes when
Buba headed against a post from a corner. 20/10/04 A group of Benfica supporters are looking into the possibility of taking referee Olegário Benquerença
to court over the 'mistakes' he made during the Benfica v FC Porto SuperLiga
match Sunday. They have taken the lead from a group of Valência supporters who had the same idea in Spain, following a game against Real Madrid. One of the Benfica group, a lawyer, is in Spain to investigate the feasibility of legal action.
Vitória de Setúbal, riding high in the table, and Académica played in front of fewer than 1,000 spectators
Monday evening. It was a cold, wet and windy night, Vitória's Bonfim stadium is uncovered and the game was live on SportTV - the Portuguese cable sports channel. The 50 or so Académica fans who braved the elements had fashioned a banner appealing to the Liga and SportTV:
"Footbal for families, festa and emotion - with games on a Monday, there's no evolution." 19/10/04 Vitória de Setúbal climbed to fifth in the SuperLiga
Monday with a narrow 1-0 win over Académica, who remain second from bottom. In front of a mere few hundred spectators on a stormy night throughout Portugal, Setúbal had the best of pay and the best
chances, notably through top scorer Jorginho, but it was Meyong who got the only goal ten minutes from time from the spot, after Paulo Adriano had handled from a corner. Benfica
are to send a report on Sunday's 0-1 home defeat to FC Porto to just about anyone who will listen. On the address list are UEFA, FIFA, the Portuguese Liga
and the Secretary of State for Sport. Benfica are incensed over what they see as a blatant act of bias by the referee Olegário Benquerença during Sunday's clássico, in which Benfica were denied a clear
penalty and a goal was not given when the ball had crossed the line following a Baía fumble. 18/10/04 FC Porto came out better in the first clássico of the season, beating
Benfica 1-0 on their own turf, McCarthy scoring the goal after just ten minutes (see
match report). The game, like the run-in to it, had several controversial moments, and after the game, the presidents of both clubs swapped insults. The win puts Porto within one point
of Benfica (a Benfica win and the gap would have been seven). Benfica stay top, however, on level point with Marítimo. Into equal fifth go Belenenses and Boavista. Belenenses were one-nil down at home to
Penafiel, a penalty by Wesley on the half hour. Lourenço missed the chance to equalise for Belenenses by missing a penalty ... twice, the second time stubbing his toe and having to go off injured. But
Antchouet did manage to wipe out the lead a minute into the second half, Rolando made it two on 55, Antchouet got a second on 68 and the unfortunate Nuno Silva
put through his own goal to seal the win and prove that Penafeil have the worst defence in the league: they've conceded 14 goals in six games. Boavista went crazy and put three past União de Leiria
away (they'd scored just four in five games previously). Zé Manuel on 41, a 25-metre screamer, André Barreto on 69 and Zé Manuel again with a free kick on 82, did the damage. Rio Ave
are unbeaten, but can't win at home. Gaúcho gave them the lead from the spot just before the break, but McPhee headed a point for Beira-Mar on 65. 17/10/04
Sporting needed to win on their short trip to Estoril Saturday to allay fears of total collapse and avoid what would have been the inevitable sacking of coach José Peseiro. Win they did and by an expressive
4-1 margin. In the first half, Sporting striker Liedson was the difference between the teams with two goals on seven and 19 minutes that in effect finished the game off. Estoril came out strongly at the
beginning of the second half, and for a quarter of an hour there were hints of Sporting's fragility in previous games. João Paulo cut back the lead to one goal on 52 minutes, but Hugo Viana
on 62 and 84 minutes finished off Estoril's hopes. Sporting jumped provisionally to sixth, while Estoril remain 15th. Marítimo climbed, also provisionally, to equal top with Benfica after a 1-0
home win over Moreirense. The goal came early in the second half, Wénio shooting but the ball deflecting off central defender Ricardo Fernandes and in. Marítimo had Fernando and Briguel sent off.
Vitória de Guimarães, like last season, continue to struggle. This time they lost 0-1 at Nacional of Madeira, the goal headed in on the half-hour by local boy Miguel Fidalgo
, making his debut for the club. 16/10/04 Gil Vicente lost at home to Sporting Braga Friday, their fifth defeat out of six. They were beaten by an own goal by
Bruno Tiago
on the hour, who intercepted a cross but could only knock it past his own ´keeper. Earlier, Gil had been reduced to ten men when Gregory was sent off for a second yellow, that on 42 minutes. Braga took advantage of the numerical superiority and had the better of play, and might have gone further ahead, but Paulo Jorge saved a penalty. Near the end, Gil coach
Luís Campos was so irate that he entered the field of play to remonstrate with the referee Bruno Paixão and was promptly red carded, not for the first time in his coaching career.
Gil remain firmly planted at the foot of the table with just three points from a possible 18. Sporting Braga climb to second, a point behind Benfica. 15/10/04
FC Porto's Board are meeting (Friday) to decide whether they will turn up on Sunday to face Benfica at the Luz
Stadium, fearing that security conditions are not adequate for the game to be played without trouble in the stands. Benfica have made no tickets available to Porto for the game, but Porto fan groups (claques)
have acquired them elsewhere. The FC Porto claque Colectivo 95
revealed Friday that they have obtained 400 tickets, mainly from Casas do Benfica (regional Benfica supporters club branches). This means that despite Benfica's best efforts, Porto will have at least 2260 supporters at Sunday's game (the biggest Porto claque SuperDragões have 1860 tickets), possibly mixed.up with Benfica fans.
The Secretary of State for Sport, Hermínio Loureiro, and the Internal Affairs Minister, Daniel Sanchez have cast doubts on the wisdom of going ahead with the game given the
aggressive atmosphere on both sides. Meanwhle, however, the PSP, the police force in charge of urban security, have said that conditions are in place for the game to go ahead without any problems, claiming
that there was a separate section of the stadium allocated to the Porto fans, and that there were plans to recieve them when they arrive in Lisbon. Between 600 and 650 officers will be on duty at the game.
In view of the uncertainty as to whether the game will go ahead, FC Porto coach Victor Fernandez cancelled his customary Friday press conference. 13/10/04
The ticket situation for Sunday's clássico between Benfica and FC Porto
is heating up and may pose a security risk. As reported below, Benfica offered FC Porto just over a thousand tickets for the game. Porto complained, saying that Liga
rules state that they are entitled to many more. Benfica, in protest at Porto's tone, then said that the Champions wouldn't get any. And then on Tuesday, it was reported that the main Porto claque, the
SuperDragões, went undercover in Lisbon to buy 2,000 tickets, which, if true, will mean that they will be mixed with Benifca fans. 08/10/04 Ten days before the first
clássico of the season, the vital Benfica v FC Porto of Sunday week, the game is already practically sold out. Benfica are to make just 1550
tickets for the 65,000 capacity Luz stadium available to Porto, although Liga regulations stipulate that the visiting side should be allocated up to 30% of the total. Benfica have claimed security fears for their decision. Porto are likely to appeal directly to the Liga to reverse Benfica's position.
07/10/04 Sporting left back Rui Jorge didn't leave the bench in the weekend's home game against União de Leiria
but was 'sent off' after the game for verbal abuse of the referee and will miss one game through suspension. Marítimo's Dutch central defender Mitchell Van de Gaag has been named Player of the
Month for September by the Portuguese Players Union. The top voted players were: 1 Van Der Gaag (Marítimo)
2 Manduca (Marítimo)
3 Jorginho (Vitória de Setúbal)
4 Petit (Benfica)
5 Simão Sabrosa (Benfica)
6 Ricardo Nascimento (Rio Ave)
7 Manuel Fernandes (Benfica)
8 Luisão (Benfica) 06/10/04 Sporting Braga shaded an eventful SuperLiga jornada 5 game against Nacional 3-2
Tuesday. There were ten yellow cards and three reds in a bad-tempered clash. Nacional won on reds, with Cléber (45') and Fábio Santos (88') taking an early bath, while the scores were evened up for 25 minutes in the second half when Braga's Jaime (63') also went.
Braga took the lead on 27 minutes through top scorer Wender, but Nacional went wild at the start of the second half and scored two in a minute through Ávalos and Serginho
to go in front. Braga kept plugging away and equalised on 70 minutes, João Tomás
beating 'keeper Hilário to the ball to head into an empty net, and the same player was on hand to knock in a Paulo Sérgio corner just three monutes later to clinch the three points for the home side. The bad tempers continued after the final whistle, and there were scuffles between players on the pitch and in the tunnel.
Braga jump to third in the table behind Benfica but on the same points as FC Porto. 05/10/04 Sporting, of the three Grandes
the club that is having the most difficulties taking off this season, spluttered again Monday when they could only draw 2-2 at home to a well-organised and combative União de Leiria, who at the end will
have been cursing their luck for not finishing the game off with the various chances they had. Rogério put Sporting in front on 24 minutes, a simple tap-in after good work from the very active Liedson. João Paulo
on 6 minutes and Fábio Frlício
on 72 made it look like União might snatch all the points, such was the poverty of Sporting's play. But in added time, Douala found space on the right and centred low for captain Beto
to nudge the ball in for the equaliser. The poor display, and the fact that Sporting have now dropped eight points in five games, is certain to put pressure on coach José Peseiro. Given the fickleness
of Portuguese fans and presidents, it would not be surprising if Peseiro were to lose his job shortly, from a club that, in recent living memory, is used to much more in terms of quality of play and results.
04/10/04 The two Grandes in action Sunday both won, and deservedly so, but were helped by the other team being reduced to ten men in the first half. Top team Benfica
travelled to Guimarães, a significant trip as it was here in January that their Hungarian striker Miki Féher died on the pitch during a game. It took two second-half free-kicks, from Simão (68) and sub
Geovanni (90), to break Vitória, who looked to have snatched a point with a penalty from Moreno (77). Marco Ferreira was sent off in the first half for a second yellow. Champions FC Porto
won their first game at the Dragão this season, 3-0 over Belenenses. Maniche set them on their way on 34 minutes, slamming home a cross from Quaresma. McCarthy
came on with 25 minutes left and ripped the heart out of the Belenenses resistance with two goals on 71 and 89 minutes, both from passes by the fast-improving Diego. Belenenses midfielder Juninho Petrolina lasted only 20 minutes before he was sent off for a second yellow.
Third-placed Vitória de Setúbal could only draw at Moreirense, 2-2. Fernando opened the scoring on 19 for Moreirense, but Vitória turned it round with a penalty from Jorginho
(53) and one from José Rui (65). Fernando got his second on 72 to give Moreirense a point. Penafiel notched up their second successive victory, 2-1 over Estoril. Wesley
gave them a two-goal lead in the first half, reduced by a penalty from N'Doye just before the break. But that's the way it stayed. Académica managed their first win of the season, 2-1
at home over Gil Vicente. The win takes Académica off the bottom of the table, swapping places with Gil. All the goals came in a fifteen-minute spell in the first half, Fábio
putting the visitors in front on 26 minutes but José António and Joeano grabbing the points for Os Estudantes before half-time. 02/10/04 Central defender
Franco scored Rio Ave's 400th goal in the SuperLiga Friday as the fifth jornada got under way. It was enough to seal victory at Boavista
and take an unbeaten Rio Ave up to seven points, the same as Boavista, who have now lost their last two games. The goal came on the half hour, Franco
beating Cadu to the ball from a corner to head past a static Khadim, making his first start of the season in place of the injured William. It was virtually one-way traffic on the Rio Ave goal from that point, but wasteful finishing, bad luck, a fine performance from the Rio Ave 'keeper
Mora
and the absence of an out-and-out striker in Boavista's front line all contributed to Boavista's failure to claw back a point. Boavista have scored just four goals in five games - a perennial problem for them. |
