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Cruz double strike puts Sporting on top
CARLOS ALBERTO
PONTES
LISBON, JANUARY 7: Sporting's 2-1
win over Beira Mar kept them on top of the Portuguese Premier
League after the weekend’s matches, the first time they have
led the standings at the halfway stage in 20 years. Two set-piece
goals by Brazilian defender Andre Cruz, one in each half,
earned Sporting their victory as they moved four points clear
of second-placed Porto and reigning champions Boavista.
Porto ended a run of three games without
a win by beating Pacos Ferreira 1-0 at home on Sunday while
Boavista take on Vitoria Setubal on Monday. Sporting lead
the standings with 36 points after 11 wins in 17 matches,
while Porto and Boavista, who have a game in hand, are both
on 32. Fourth-placed Uniao Leiria, the surprise package of
the season so far, beat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 at home on Saturday
to lie six points behind the league leaders and one ahead
of former European champions Benfica.
Cruz opened the scoring on the half-hour
for Sporting on Saturday with his first goal in a year, curling
a free-kick from 25 metres into the top left corner.
Brazilian midfielder Juninho Petrolina
equalised for Beira Mar in the 59th minute, following a goalmouth
scramble when Sporting’s Tiago Ferreira failed to gather a
corner kick.
But free-kick specialist Cruz sealed victory
10 minutes from time with another spot kick, lifting his tally
of set-piece goals to eight since he joined Sporting three
seasons ago. Porto ended their poor recent run by making the
most of an error by the Pacos Ferreira goalkeeper Emilio Pinho.
Pinho caught but failed to stop a free-kick by Porto’s Brazilian
midfielder Deco Sousa in the 42nd minute.
Pacos managed to find the Porto net in
the final minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Benfica extended their run of games without a win to six,
drawing 1-1 at home to Maritimo on Saturday. Maritimo went
ahead after just 10 minutes with a goal from unmarked Brazilian
striker Eric Gaucho, but Angolan forward Pedro Mantorras levelled
for Benfica in the 25th. (Reuters)
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