Porto sitting pretty
Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Article summary
FC Porto continue to set the pace after recording a 4-1 victory against Gil Vicente FC.
Article body
FC Porto continue to set the pace in the Portuguese SuperLiga after recording a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Gil Vicente FC on Sunday.
Never in doubt
Midfield player Maniche opened the scoring for the UEFA Cup holders in the 37th minute and once Benni McCarthy and Dimitri Alenitchev added two further goals in six second-half minutes, the result was never in doubt. Edinho pulled a goal back for the visitors but Derlei's 80th-minute strike restored the leaders' three-goal cushion. Porto, whose only defeat this season came against Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League, are unbeaten in 15 domestic matches.
Close behind
Headed goals
Boavista beaten
SC Beira-Mar climbed to fourth thanks to their 1-0 victory against AA Coimbra, secured by Juninho Petrolina's 61st-minute strike - his fourth goal in seven games - but the big shock of the weekend was Boavista FC's 2-1 defeat by CF Estrela da Amadora. The home side took a seventh-minute lead through Júlio César and although Ricardo Sousa equalised for Boavista eleven minutes into the second half, Abdelsatar Sabry scored the winner with 21 minutes remaining. The defeat, only Boavista's second this season, was made harder to bear by the dismissal of Filipe Anunciação in added time.
Solitary goal
FC Paços de Ferreira were also stung by a late red card, João Manuel's sending-off rubbing salt into their wounds after UD Leiria's Luís Bilro had scored the only goal of their game on 76 minutes. Elsewhere, Vitória SC drew 2-2 with FC Alverca, who scored a late leveller through Rodolfo Lima, and CD Nacional ran out 3-1 winners against Moreirense FC.
Pelé pounces
CS Marítimo were denied the victory which would have enabled them to leap up the table when CF Os Belenenses defender Pedro Pelé scored a goal five minutes into added time to salvage a 2-2 draw. Gabon-born striker Henri Antchouet had given the home side a first-minute lead but two goals in three first-half minutes from Dutch defender Mitchell van der Gaag and midfield player Briguel had seemingly put Marítimo on course for victory.
