Portugal round-up: Five in a row for Leiria

UD Leiria recorded their fifth consecutive win to go second in the 1. Liga after beating SC Braga 3-1 on Sunday.

Early lead
Braga got off to the worst possible start when Ricardo Rocha turned the ball into his own net after only two minutes. Brazilian striker Rafael Jaques doubled the lead for Leiria five minutes before the interval. Although Braga's Australian hitman Michael Curcija pulled one back in the 74th minute, Leiria were always in control and made sure of the points five minutes from time.

Marítimo win
Jaques' free-scoring compatriot Derlei Silva made it twelve goals from 16 starts to move Braga above FC Porto and Boavista FC, who play on Monday, into second place on goal difference behind Sporting Clube de Portugal. CS Marítimo made heavy weather of beating second-from-bottom Vitória Setúbal, eventually edging them aside in the 75th minute courtesy of an Eric Gaucho goal.

Late rally
FC Alvercaca dragged themselves out of the relegation zone with three goals in the final nine minutes to earn a dramatic 3-1 win over CD Santa Clara. The visitors took the lead just before the break through Spanish midfielder Toñito Gonzalez, and looked to be cruising to victory before Alverca's late show. Paulo Zeferino Soares struck the equaliser nine minutes from time, and then two minutes into time added on Cape Verde striker Tinaia Correia struck the winner. Seconds later Rui Borges made sure of the result with Alverca's third.

Paços dent Belenenses hopes
In the day's other game FC Paços de Ferreira dented CF Os Belenenses' title challenge as they ran out 2-1 winners. Paços took a 2-0 lead into the break with Zé Manuel scoring in the first and 45th minutes. The sixth-placed side were unable to respond and could only claim a consolation goal through Verona in the dying seconds of the game.