Sunday’s five Liga fixtures saw Benfica move clear at the top of the table with a routine 4-0 win at Leiria, thanks to goals from Bruno Cesar, Cardozo and a brace from Rodrigo. Nacional, Maritimo, Rio Ave and Guimaraes also notched up victories. Ben Shave rounds up the action.
Having witnessed their two main rivals cancel each other out on Saturday night, Benfica travelled to Marinha Grande knowing that a win over Manuel Cajuda’s Leiria would put them clear at the top. It was therefore something of a surprise to see both Pablo Aimar and Nico Gaitan absent from the eighteen. No news of injuries to the Argentine duo had leaked out prior to kick off, leaving fans to speculate as to the reasons for their absence. Nolito and Rodrigo lined up in their places. Leiria fielded Benfica loanee Elvis whilst Shaffer was on the bench. Young midfielder Ruben Brigido (who has also been linked with a move to the Luz) continued his comeback from injury amongst the substitutes.
Luisao had the first effort on goal, heading wide from a free kick after three minutes, but it was the home side who went closest during the opening stages. Some superb play from Djaniny forced Maxi into a full stretch goal line clearance, the 20 year-old showing exactly why he is expected to move on from Leiria sooner rather than later.
Stung, Benfica upped the tempo and after Rodrigo almost connected with a fine Cardozo cross, duly took the lead with nine minutes gone. Emerson, haring forward down the left wing, delivered a cross which was only half cleared by Leiria, and Bruno Cesar rifled home from the edge of the box, his seventh goal of the campaign.
Despite conceding the early goal, the home side continued about their business in positive fashion, with Djaniny and Elvis looking particularly lively. However, as the half went on Benfica began to exert more control over proceedings, and will have been slightly frustrated to have entered the interval only one goal to the good. Cardozo shot inches wide after being teed up by Nolito, but for all their possession and time spent in the Leiria half, the Eagles were not at their most incisive.
The purpose with which Benfica began the second half suggested that Jorge Jesus had communicated that frustration to his team in no uncertain terms. Cardozo almost scored moments after the restart, and three minutes later, the Paraguayan had the ball in the net. A precise pass from Rodrigo sent Cardozo beyond two markers, and the number seven crashed a fierce left footed effort beyond Gottardi, who was left with no chance.
That set Benfica up perfectly to control the second half, which they did without too much trouble. A caution for Javi Garcia, which rules the Spaniard out of next Saturday’s meeting with Setubal, provided a lone stain on what turned into a comfortable victory for Jorge Jesus’ men.
With Cardozo having delivered a reminder of his qualities, his putative successor Rodrigo responded with a three-minute brace of his own. The excellent Bruno Cesar was the architect of both goals, slipping the youngster through inside the box for the first; then delivering a sumptuous cross field pass that was seized on by Maxi, who squared for Rodrigo to tap home with Gottardi helpless.
The victory leaves Benfica alone at the top of the table, two points clear of Porto, and eight clear of Sporting.
Leiria: Gottardi; Ivo Pinto, Marco Soares, Edson, Patrick (Jo 45’); Manuel Curto, Ogu; Marcos Paulo, Elvis (Shaffer 81’), Terroso (Brigido 81’); Djaniny.
Benfica: Artur; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Emerson; Javi Garcia (Matic 81’), Witsel, Rodrigo (Rodrigo Mora 78’), Bruno Cesar; Cardozo (Saviola 81’).
Goals
[0-1] Bruno Cesar 9’
[0-2] Cardozo 48’
[0-3] Rodrigo 73’
[0-4] Rodrigo 76’
Gil Vicente 0-3 Nacional
Nacional centre back Danielson notched up a contender for the fastest goal of the season in Barcelos, stabbing home a rebound with barely a minute on the clock. Six minutes later things got even better for the away side, as Mario Rondon found the net to give Pedro Caixinha’s men a commanding half time lead. The dismissal of the returning Rodrigo Galo eliminated any possibility of a comeback from Gil, and Skolnik added the third seven minutes from time.
Maritimo 2-1 Olhanense
After defeating an AC Milan youth side 1-0 in his first match at the helm, Sergio Conceicao was handed a rather tough welcome to life in the Liga, as goals from Salim Benachour and Danilo Dias put his Olhanense side 2-0 down at Maritimo after just eighteen minutes, before Rui Duarte pulled one back on the verge of half time.
However, the interval came at precisely the wrong moment for Conceicao’s men, and Maritimo were able to keep them at bay and hold out for their first Liga win since November.
Rio Ave 1-0 Pacos de Ferreira
Fifteenth hosted sixteenth in Vila do Conde, as both Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira attempted to kick start their campaigns for survival. The significance of the occasion was suited perfectly to the veteran wiles of Joao Tomas, and it was the 36 year-old who converted from the spot with half an hour gone to put the home side ahead at the interval.
Tomas missed another spot kick with just nine minutes left to play, but the home side hung on for a vital victory that sees Pacos cut adrift at the bottom. Both sides finished the game with ten men, after Tony and then Tarantini received second yellow cards.
Guimaraes 1-0 Feirense
A drab encounter at a noticeably under-attended Afonso Henriques closed out the weekend. Feirense were compact and well organised, but Guimaraes did little during the opening half to ease the pressure on President Emile Macedo, who has had to weather protests against his administration in recent days.
However, an instinctive finish from Marcelo Toscano from close range was enough to put the home side ahead early on in the second half, and although Guimaraes laboured for the remainder of the game, they held out for the win, and climb up to 7th.
Round 14 concludes with Beira-Mar hosting Braga tomorrow night, at 20.15.
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