Portugal: Porto and Sporting win, Benfica lose

The Portuguese title race seems to have dropped a candidate as Benfica crashed to a 0-1 win by Academica de Coimbra on Saturday. FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon did win.

Mid-table Academica needed just one goal to take three points, with Kwabena Tiero netting the winner on 23 minutes. The visitors had Helder Cabral sent off in the 73rd minute but even that was not enough for Benfica to fight their way back into the game.

Leaders FC Porto earned a routine 3-0 win over Estrela Amadora. Bruno Alves scored in the first half and Ernesto Farias added two in the second.

Sporting Lisbon hosted Naval Primeiro de Maio in the capital city and opened the score through Bruno Pereirinha in the 14th minute. Marcelinho equalised two minutes later but two goals from Liedson eventually led Sporting to a 3-1 victory.

With six games to go in the Liga Sagres, Porto are four points ahead of Sporting. Benfica follow at another four points.