Liga Sagres wrap: Guimaraes boost Europe hopes, Porto held

Vitoria Guimaraes recorded a 1-0 win over Beira-Mar to move into the fifth European spot in Liga Sagres on Sunday.

An 87th-minute goal from striker Marcelo Toscano could prove vital before Saturday’s last round of games.

The win put Manuel Machado’s team into the last of three Europa League spots with a game against bottom-placed Naval de Maio to finish their season.

Beira-Mar are 11th but can finish as high as ninth if results go their way.

Porto were held for just the third time this season as a hat-trick from Pacos de Ferreira attacker Pizzi earned his side a 3-3 draw.

The champions-elect, who have won 26 of their 29 league games and are undefeated this campaign, had gone into half-time with a 2-0 lead after goals from Maicon and Hulk, before Pizzi pulled one back three minutes into the second period.

Porto’s Columbian striker Falcao restored the two-goal buffer soon after, only for Pizzi put his side back into the game in the 59th minute.

When Pacos de Ferreira attacker Nelson Oliveira was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Joao Moutinho three minutes later, it looked as though their hopes of getting anything from the game were gone.

But Pizzi popped up two minutes from time to level things up and move his team into seventh.

Nacional’s hopes of finishing in the top five were dealt a blow after they suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Olhanense.

Forward Toy scored the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute for the 12th-placed side, leaving Nacional one point from fifth-placed Guimaraes.

A first-half brace from Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo set up Benfica’s 2-1 win over Rio Ave.

Cardozo found the net twice in the opening half an hour as Rio Ave slipped to eighth.

Substitute midfielder Braga pulled a goal back one minute from full-time but they could not find another during stoppages.

In other games, Sporting Lisbon suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vitoria Setubal after a 55th-minute goal from attacker Jailson.

It saw Sporting Lisbon drop to fourth after Sporting Braga played out a 0-0 draw with Academica to move into third.

Portimonense moved off the bottom thanks to a 1-0 win over ninth-placed Maritimo, with winger Ivanildo scoring the only goal of the game on 62 minutes.

Maritimo defender Igor was sent off when he picked up a second booking seven minutes before full-time.

It leaves Naval de Maio on the bottom after they suffered a 1-0 loss to Uniao de Leiria, where substitute Joao Silva scored the only goal of the game.