Porto hopes dented by Sporting

(GSM) – FC Porto’s outside hopes of challenging for the Portuguese title look to be over after being thrashed 3-0 on Sunday by Sporting Lisbon.

Yannick Djaló opened the scoring for Sporting inside the sixth minute at the Estádio José Alvalade, immediately putting the visitors from Porto – who entered the day nine points back of leaders Benfica – on the backfoot.

Matters only got worse for Porto just before the half-time interval when Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov struck past Helton to make it 2-0 to the home side.

It was all over two minutes after the restart as Miguel Veloso struck an emphatic third goal to give Sporting a big win over a key rival.

With only nine matches left to play in the league season, Porto’s deficit almost certainly leaves Benfica and Braga to battle for the title.