Portugal round-up: Sporting retain slender lead

Sporting Clube de Portugal maintained their one-point lead over Boavista FC after a goalless draw between the two sides at the Bessa stadium tonight.

Jardel denied
Sporting had the better of a keenly-fought contest with Mario Jardel hitting the woodwork. The draw will suit the visitors more than champions Boavista, who could have leapfrogged their opponents with a victory.

Benfica disappointed
Third-placed SL Benfica missed winger Simão dearly in their 1-1 draw with SC Braga. Braga took the lead in the 52th minute, through Nigerian forward Abiodun, after a Ricardo Nascimento cross from the left. Benfica eventually managed to find an equaliser 18 minutes later. It came from the penalty spot courtesy of  Slovenian international midfielder Zlatko Zahovic, after Braga skipper Artur Jorge tripped Benfica winger Carlitos.

Porto back on song
FC Porto coach José Mourinho was again a happy man as his team returned to winning ways in the 1. Liga by defeating 2-1 Gil Vicente FC. All the important action came after half-time. Visitors Gil Vicente actually took the lead in the 49th minute through Ricardo Fernandes, a midfield player on-loan from Sporting, who scored on a rebound, after goalkeeper Paulo Santos stopped a Rudolph Douala shot. Porto levelled in the 66th minute though, with Cândido Costa scoring from a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Paulo Jorge. Cândido Costa then scored the winner five minutes from time, tapping-in a low cross from Capucho.

Alverca under pressure
Elsewhere tonight, SC Salgueiros piled on the pressure for FC Alverca with a 2-1 victory while FC Paços Ferreira won 1-0 at CS Marítimo. In Aveiro, SC Beira-Mar had to work hard to beat SC Farense 2-1 in a match marred by two dismissals.