Birthday boy boosts Benfica

By Rui Matos Pereira

SL Benfica captain Simão Sabrosa celebrated his 25th birthday in style by converting a last-gasp free-kick against bottom-placed Gil Vicente FC to salvage a 1-1 draw and keep his side, reduced to ten men four minutes from time, top of the Portuguese SuperLiga.

Last-gasp leveller
After Gil Vicente goalkeeper Paulo Jorge had pulled off a string of saves and Panagyotis Fyssas had been dismissed for two bookable offences, Simão struck five minutes into added time to cancel out former Benfica winger Nandinho's first-half effort for the home side.  

Narrow gap
The late leveller not only denied Ulisses Morais a win in his first game at the Gil Vicente helm but enabled Benfica to stay a point ahead of undefeated FC Porto, who drew 2-2 in Madeira against CD Nacional on Saturday.

Nacional comeback
The European champions went 1-0 up in the first minute through Brazilian playmaker Diego's free-kick and doubled their lead when Benni McCarthy found the net after half-time. But with everybody expecting a comfortable away win, Nacional bounced back and eventually levelled the scores in added time thanks to a Raúl Meireles own goal and Adriano's late header.

Sporting success
Fourth-placed Sporting Clube de Portugal recorded a 3-0 win at struggling FC Penafiel. All three goals came in the second half, Nuno Silva putting past his own goalkeeper before Custódio opened his Sporting account and Liedson added an 87th-minute header.

Terrific Tiago
Boavista FC stayed fifth thanks to Tiago's winner in the dying seconds against CF Os Belenenses. André Barreto had put Boavista ahead in the seventh minute but Henri Antchouet's first-half equaliser looked sure to give the home side a 1-1 draw until Tiago's late heroics.

Cajuda denied
GD Estoril-Praia enjoyed a 5-0 win against SC Beira-Mar. The Aveiro side, yet to win under coach Manuel Cajuda, fell behind in the eleventh minute to the first of two Arrieta strikes. Centre-half Dorival made it three before Brazilian forward Yuri scored twice in the second-half.

Home win
Undefeated Rio Ave FC avoided a draw for only the second time this season as they triumphed 3-1 at home against A. Académica de Coimbra while UD Leiria and FC Moreirense drew 0-0. The weekend programme concludes on Monday, when CS Marítimo take on visitors SC Braga and Vitória SC travel to Setúbal to face Vitória FC, who would move top of the table with a victory.