In an exciting finish, Zhang Chengdong scored late to send União Leiria past Académica 2-1 at Estádio Magalhães Pessoa. The result pulls the respective side level in the second spot of Liga Portuguesa table in the opening contest of match day seven.

União Leiria manager João Bastos made one change to his side that defeated Rio 1-0 last week with Marcos Paulo coming in for Paulo Sérgio. His counterpart, Jorge Costa, made no adjustments to Académica starting eleven that got past Vitória Guimarães 3-1 last week

After União Leiria narrowly missed going in front, Miguel Fidalgo gave Académica the 1-0 lead as he powerfully turned in Modou Sougou’s cross from the right side of the area. Chances were sparse after the goal with the contest turning into a box-to-box affair through to the break.

The early stages of the second half saw Académica presented the best opportunities but each chance came up empty as they clung to the one goal advantage. With twenty-one minutes remaining, Jorge Costa, substituted the goal scorer for Éder with Académica beginning to take a more defensive approach. Four minutes later, João Bastos added Zhang Chengdong as an extra attacker for Marcos Paulo and it was not long until Leiria began to lay siege to the visitors goal. With twelve minutes remaining in regulation time, the match was level on an abysmal display of defending. Initiating from a long free kick from the right that came into the box, Orlando headed clearance bounded to the right where Carlão quickly volleyed the gifted ball into the net from an acute angle. The contest was now a one-way street with Zé António being stopped by the visiting ‘keeper from close range after a further defending error by Académica. At the eighty-seven minute, the host grabbed the winning margin as Zhang Chengdong headed a free kick from the left into the net to give União Leiria the 2-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

In a hard fought match, Vitória de Guimarães edged União de Leiria 1-0 at a near-empty Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. With the result Guimarães climb a point of Sporting to fourth in the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst União de Leiria are two points back at the sixth spot.

Chances were rare in the opening forty-five minutes as both sides were resolute in defending. Just before the hour União de Leiria goalkeeper Hélder Godinho was sent off with a dubious red-card professional foul after Nuno Assis went to the ground, apparently without contact. After nine minutes of delay while replacement ‘keeper Mika (Michael Domingues) was forced to change his socks, Andrezinho struck the ensuing penalty effort to the left corner of the net to give Paulo Sérgio’s side the lead. União de Leiria had a perfect chance to level when Ronny’s free kick into the box came to Vinícius but Guimarães goalkeeper Nilson stopped his header. Guimarães had ample chance to increase their lead but Mika was superb in keeping their efforts out but despite those missed chances claimed the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

Benfica continued its assault on the Liga Portuguesa crown with a confident 3-0 victory over União de Leiria at the Estádio da Luz. With the result Jorge Jesus’s side climb to the top of the table, three points above Braga who has a match in hand, whilst Leiria hold down the fifth spot.

Picking up where they left off after Saturday’s defeat of Vitória de Guimarães, the hosts showed little mercy and took a 1-0 lead at the tenth minute with a positively breathtaking goal. Latching on to the end of the through ball down the left channel, Argentine international Javier Saviola cut back as he neared the by-line and delivered a razor sharp pass to Pablo Aimar, who then immediately return the ball. In a flash who came over from Real Madrid last June, sent a pin-point cross to the back post that Óscar Cardozo headed past goalkeeper Andjelko Djuričić. If there were any flaws in the evening for the Águias, finishing lacked the cutting edge as a number of fine opportunities went to waste and were exposed in set pieces with Diego Gaúcho narrowly missing on more than one occasion. However, without further incident the sides went to the half with Benfica holding the one goal advantage.

After the re-start Benfica’s supporters were in full voice urging their side on and true to form, Javier Saviola answered the call a minute past the hour mark. Played through on the left channel into the box, he out-muscled Diego Gaúcho before firing from acute angle a low shot on the inside post of Andjelko Djuričić. The goal took the wind out of Lito Vidigal’s side from Leiria, though they stayed within two after Ángel Di María missed a perfect opportunity to score the insurance goal at the seventy-first minute. To complicate matters for the visitors, with fifteen minutes remaining the visitors were forced to play a man down as Elias was sent off with his second yellow card. With a minute remaining in regulation, Ruben Amorim finished the scoring as he struck a long-range effort to the upper right corner that ‘keeper Andjelko Djuričić, clearly injured, was unable to fully stretch out for.

Benfica return to play on Saturday as they visit Vitória de Setúbal whilst União de Leiria travels to Funchal in the Madeira Islands to face Marítimo the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved