PORTUGUESE PRIMEIRA LIGA
PORTO 2-2 SPORTING (O Clássico)
Sporting CP needed a win in this match to keep alive their objective of defending the league title but Porto did their part to avoid defeat at home.
Just like in the reverse fixture, Porto came from behind to get a point against Sporting CP.
A game that produced more red cards than goals. [4 goals were scored]
Porto kept their 6- point lead in the standings by coming from two goals down to avoid a home defeat to the reigning champion.
Sporting CP had the start they wanted when Paulinho got them in the lead in the 8th minute, and Nuno Santos doubled the lead in the 34th minute. But failing to enter the halftime break with a 2- goal lead was a big dent in their ambitions in Porto.
The second half started with Sporting CP getting reduced to 10 men in the 49th minute. Sebastien Coates picked up a second yellow card.
A numerically disadvantaged Sporting CP held on till the 78th minute before conceding another goal to lose the lead. Mehdi Taremi scored Porto’s equalizer.
Things got hectic at the end of the match, with four red cards evenly shared.
Tabata and Joao Palhinha for Sporting CP
Pepe and Agustin Marches in for Porto
THE MATCH RESULT OF THE OTHER TEAMS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE PODIUM OF THE TITLE RACE
Braga 2-1 Pacoa de Ferreira
Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara
AS THINGS STAND AT THE TOP END OF THE PRIMEIRA LIGA TABLE AFTER 22 MATCHES PLAYED.
1| Porto – 60 points
2| Sporting CP – 54 points
3| Benfica – 50 points
4| Braga – 41 points
