Portuguese race remains tight

By Hugo Pietra

FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal both won on Sunday to remain level on points at the top of the SuperLiga, but SL Benfica slipped to a surprise home defeat to slip to fifth - albeit within three points of the front two.

Braga win
SC Braga and Boavista FC began the weekend a point behind the big three, and by Saturday night both had won to share the provisional lead. Braga went top on Friday as they beat bottom side Associação Académica de Coimbra 2-0 with a goal on the half-hour from Jaime and a last-minute João Alves effort. Académica's Danilo was sent off late on.

Boavista prevail
The following day Boavista overcame CD Nacional by the same scoreline. Nacional's Cléber Oliveira was dismissed for a second yellow card on 47 minutes and within 60 seconds Diogo Valente had put Boavista ahead. Nélson wrapped up the victory in added time.

Shock for Benfica
Benfica could have taken the outright lead that evening but were surprised 2-0 at home by lowly SC Beira-Mar, for whom striker Tanque Silva struck on 35 and 66 minutes. Beira-Mar defender Ricardo Silva was red-carded in the 83rd minute but his team held on.

Costa clincher
However, 24 hours later Porto and Sporting were back in command. Ricardo Costa headed in Ricardo Quaresma's corner on 17 minutes to give Porto a 1-0 success at UD Leiria despite Benni McCarthy's 76th-minute dismissal for a second booking.

Sporting ease to victory
Meanwhile, Sporting defeated Gil Vicente FC 3-0, also away from home. Ricardo Sá Pinto struck on 29 minutes from outside the box and again just after the hour with a delicate chip, and Liedson headed in 13 minutes from time to confirmed victory.

Rio Ave delight
Rio Ave FC are up to sixth after a 2-1 comeback win against GD Estoril-Praia secured by a last-gasp Ricardo Nascimento penalty, while Vitória FC thrashed FC Penafiel 4-0 with a Bruno Ribeiro hat-trick. CF Os Belenenses's trip to CS Marítimo and the Minho derby between Vitória SC and Moreirense SC both ended goalless.