LISBON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A goal from substitute Pedro Barbosa 12 minutes from time was enough for champions Sporting to beat Beira Mar 1-0 on Sunday and end a disturbing losing streak. |  |
Pedro Barbosa hit the winner
(Allsport/Allsport) |
Thrashed 4-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League in
midweek, Sporting struggled to find a rhythm and were just
grateful to come away with a win.
The victory lifts them into third spot in the league, one
point behind Braga, who beat Salgueiros 2-0 on Friday, and two
points adrift of Porto who have a game in hand.
Porto, who meet Alverca at home on Monday, have 21 points
from eight matches. Sporting lost 1-0 at home to Porto last
weekend and 3-0 to Spartak Moscow on October 17.
Two goals from substitute striker Joao Tomas gave Benfica a
welcome 2-0 home win over Campomaiorense on Sunday after the
visitors had been reduced to 10 men.
Tomas' first came after 75 minutes, five minutes after
defender Paulo Poejo had been sent off for a second yellow card.
His second came just two minutes from time.
Amongst the 40,000 crowd at Benfica's Stadium of Light was
new club chairman Manuel Vilarinho, elected on Friday in one of
the most heated ballots in the club's history.
A record number of club members voted in the election, with
Vilarinho owing his victory to his promises to bring big name
players to the club. Benfica are seventh with 15 points from
nine games.
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