Porto maintained its unbeaten start to the Liga Portuguesa campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over visiting Vitória Setúbal at Estádio do Dragão to pull eight points clear of Benfica at the top of the table.

Coming off their draw against rivals Sporting, Porto manager André Villas-Boas made four changes to his starting eleven with Jorge Fucile , Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Rodríguez and Freddy Guarín coming in for Cristian Săpunaru, Maicon, Fernando and Silvestre Varela.

In an unusually quiet setting for the hosts, the run of play was decidedly one-way, with Setúbal ‘keeper Diego neatly holding back efforts from João Moutinho and Cristian Rodríguez. Five minutes shy of the break, Fernando Belluschi curled a free kick from the left off the cross bar as Porto continued to search for a way through. With time ticking down the break, Porto stepped to the spot after match day referee controversially adjudged Aurélien Collin a penalty for contact with Radamel Falcao. In the ensuing effort, Hulk drilled the ball into the net for the one goal advantage at the break.

The second half saw little change in direction though the Dragões were definitely not running on all cylinders and unable to build upon the lead. The visitors were unable to break through until a minute remained in regulation when once again a penalty was called, as Nicolás Otamendi was adjudged for bringing down Henrique. While match day referee erroneously identified the Argentine, as Jorge Fucile was the more likely culprit, it set the stage for a further contentious decision. In the resulting effort, Jaílson drilled the ball into the net, only to see the referee wave off the goal and order a re-take. The second effort flew well over the bar as Porto laid claim to the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

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

Braga slipped off Benfica’s pace with a shocking nil draw to relegation threatened Vitória de Setúbal at Estádio do Bonfim. With the result Braga is level with Benfica, who play tomorrow, at the top of  the Liga Portuguesa, whilst Vitória de Setúbal sits at the fourteenth spot.

Domingos Paciência’s side suggested little attacking venom prior to the break and it was in-fact Setúbal who posted the few, rare chances. Though Braga was able to create a few chances in the second-half for Alan and Albert Ze Meyong, neither was much of a threat to Setúbal ‘keeper Nuno Santos and the match ended as a scoreless draw.

Braga returns to play on Saturday as they welcome Rio Ave to “the Quarry”, whilst Vitória de Setúbal visits Leixões on Sunday.

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

Benfica’s goal scoring maching came to a crashing halt as Vitória de Setúbal held them o a 1-1 draw at Estádio do Bonfim. The result is particularly costly for Jorge Jesus’ side as Braga is four points behind but have two matches in hand, whilst Vitória de Setúbal nudges a point above the relegation zone at the thirteenth spot in the Liga Portuguesa table.

Following Benfica’s confident midweek victory over União de Leiria, few would have expected a side threatened by relegation would have slowed them. With little attacking pulse to note, Sporting grabbed the 1-0 lead at the fourteenth minute as David Luiz rose high to head a corner from the left but the ball came off him and into the net off careened of Zoro as an own goal. In a shocking leveller, seven minutes prior to the break Hélder Barbosa cleared a ball off the right by-line where David Luiz whiffed at the ball, slicing it inadvertently into his own net. Near the hour, Vitória de Setúbal looked to have grabbed the lead as Ladji Keita redirected Hélder Barbosa’s cross from the right in but in a highly dubious decision, the goal was pulled back with an offside call. Benfica pressed for the win but constantly thwarted by the hosts resolve. However as time wound down, Benfica looked like they were going to escape with the win as deep into added-time, Zoro, having a dreadful night against the side he is on-loan from was adjudged a penalty for fouling Alan Kardec in the area. Óscar Cardozo stepped-up with confidence but the Liga Portuguesa goal scoring leader pounded the ball off the crossbar to seal Benfica’s fate as the match ended in a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Benfica return to play next Saturday as they welcome Belenenses to the Estádio da Luz. whilst Vitória de Setúbal visits União de Leiria the following day.

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

Vitória de Guimarães, in a fight for a spot in the Europa League, needed a late goal from Targino to rescue a 2-2 draw against Vitória de Setúbal at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. With the result, the northern Portuguese side Guimarães hold onto six spot in the Liga Portuguesa table whilst Setúbal sit in the relegation zone at fourteenth.

In a fast-paced start, Setúbal grabbed the 1-0 lead barely three minutes after the opening whistle as a long free kick into the box, came to Ladji Keita who courtesy of a significant deflection sent the ball in from ten metres out. Two minutes later Paulo Sérgio’s side levelled the match as a diving Marquinho headed a long cross from the right into the net. Though both sides showed considerable attacking pulse, neither could break through until two minutes past the hour when Hélder Barbosa, on-loan from Porto, sent a seeing-eye cross from the left to the back post that Aurélien Collin rose high to nod into the net to give Setúbal the 2-1 lead. With three minutes remaining in regulation time Guimarães found the all-important leveller as a long distance effort from the left took a deflection through the box and off Targino’s before trickling into the net. Guimarães continued to press for the winner but was unable to find the needed touch and the match concluded as a 2-2 draw, honours even.

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