Porto pegged back by Benfica

FC Porto’s 1-1 draw with SL Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on Sunday meant Sporting Clube de Portugal’s defeat of Moreirense FC on Friday ultimately reduced the gap at the top of the Portuguese SuperLiga to five points.

Simão leveller
Porto remain unbeaten but were forced to share the points for the fifth time this season against coach José Mourinho’s former charges. Simão Sabrosa’s 51st-minute leveller cancelled out the first-half lead established by Porto's Costinha. Sporting saw off Moreirense 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from in-form attacking midfield player Fábio Rochemback.

Basement battles
At the other end of the table, basement club CF Estrela da Amadora sneaked a point against Gil Vicente FC thanks to a tenth-minute effort from midfield player Pedro Simões. Mauro’s 48th-minute response failed to initiate a full comeback from the visitors. Meanwhile, Brazilian strikers Gustavo Manduca and Fernando Gaúcho both scored inside the first 15 minutes for FC Paços de Ferreira to lay the ground for a 2-1 defeat of SC Beira-Mar.

Marching orders
Adriano helped CD Nacional to a 1-0 away defeat of UD Leiria in a match with a dismissal for both sides; lowly AA Coimbra dealt fifth-placed Boavista FC a 1-0 reverse thanks to a 65th-minute goal from Paulo Sérgio while SC Braga, in sixth, and CS Maritimo, in seventh, battled out a scoreless draw.

Monday matches
On Monday, Vitória SC take on CF Os Belenenses and Rio Ave FC face Alverca Futebol SAD.