Belenenses batter Setubal

Belenenses 5-0 Vitoria Setubal

In a surprisingly one-sided match, Belenenses pounded Vitoria Setubal 5-0 at the Restelo. FC Porto’s title clinching win against Estrela da Amadora and Benfica’s bashing of Boavista in December were the only fixtures in which a bigger win than last night’s massacre occurred this season.

The win allows the Blues to leapfrog Setubal in the standings, moving up to 5th spot on 42 points, one more than the Sadinos.

The match started at a fast pace and new Benfica signing Ruben Amorim tried his luck in the 11th minute with his long range effort, but it sailed just over the crossbar. Belenenses made good on their strong start in the 19th minute as Weldon beat off challenges from Robson and Janicio to left-foot the ball past Eduardo to make it 1-0.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 27th minute as Weldon notched a brace, scoring his 11th goal of the season, as the unmarked striker headed the ball into the Setubal net to make him joint second top scorer in the Liga, alongside Cardozo, Liedson and Wesley.

Things just kept getting worse for the Sadinos as they were reduced to ten men in the 34th minute when Janicio used his hand to prevent a certain goal. Ze Pedro stepped up to convert the penalty shot and made no mistake, tucking the ball to Eduardo’s right.

Belenenses capped off their scoring late in the second half. Joao Paulo got the first of his two goals in the 86th minute when he acrobatically converted a Candido Costa cross, and in added time the striker took advantage of a Robson slip to slot the ball past a helpless Eduardo to complete the rout.