Liga Sagres wrap: Benfica, Porto share spoils

14 January 2013 02:06

Benfica played out a 2-2 draw with title rivals Porto while Vitoria Setubal thumped Moreirense 5-0 in the Liga Sagres on Sunday.

Benfica retained their three-point lead atop the league with the result, as they came from behind twice to earn a point in front of their home fans.

In a frantic beginning to the match at Estadio Jose Alvalade, all four goals were scored inside the opening 20 minutes, before both sides settled.

French defender Eliaquim Mangala gave Porto the lead after eight minutes but Serbian Nemanja Matic produced a quick response for the hosts.

Colombian Jackson Martinez continued his brilliant run for Porto when he netted for the 17th time this season on 15 minutes, but again Benfica levelled proceedings quickly.

This time it was Nicolas Gaitan who scored the equaliser, with the Argentine on target in the 17th minute.

There were no more goals in the crunch match, with Benfica – who had five shots on target to Porto's two – unable to add to their account.

Elsewhere, Cameroon striker Albert Meyong struck a hat-trick in Vitoria Setubal's crushing win, with two of his strikes coming in the first half.

Meyong netted his third just one minute into the second half, Pedro Santos and substitute Bruninho adding further goals as they thrashed the nine-man Moreirense outfit.

Fourth-placed Pacos de Ferreira beat lowly Academica 1-0 thanks to Peruvian Paolo Hurtado's second-half strike, while Sporting Lisbon won 2-0 at Olhanense.

Rio Ave also triumphed on the road, edging Gil Vicente 1-0.