High-flying Guimaraes move up to third

Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 Academica

Vitoria Guimaraes continue their amazing ascension up the table in the Bwin Liga as the team closed out the 12th round with a 2-1 win over Academica.

The win shoots Guimaraes up to third place in the standings, surpassing Setubal and Sporting, and the northerners are now only three points behind second-placed Benfica.

The match did not start out the way the hosts wanted as it was Academica who drew first blood in the 21st minute as Pavlovic headed an Ivanildo free kick past Nilson, with the aid of a Kaka deflection, to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Crossbar denies Academica

Academica were unfortunate not to score a second goal in the 31st minute when Litos rattled the crossbar with a header from an Ivanildo corner.

Guimaraes drew level in the 51st minute when Ghilas picked up a Mrdakovic back-heel and cleverly turned the ball past Pedro Roma to equalise.

The home side then thought they had grounds for a penalty when Mrdakovic was obstructed by Kaka in the box, but the match referee allowed play to continue.

Comeback complete

The hosts completed the comeback in the 69th minute when Flavio Meireles stole the ball from N’Doye and fed it to Mrdakovic. The Serbian took it from there as he peeled off Academica defenders like a banana and sent a strong right-footed strike past Pedro Roma to seal the win.

The Students gave Guimaraes a scare in the 73rd minute when Ivanildo’s free kick deflected off the wall and brushed against the outside of the post, but the hosts held on to the delight of another big crowd at the Dom Afonso Henriques stadium.

V. Guimaraes:
Nilson, Andrezinho, Sereno, Geromel, Desmarets, Joao Alves (Targino, 35), Flavio Meireles, Fajardo, Ghilas (Carlitos, 67), Alan, Rabiola (Mrdakovic, 46)
Yellow Cards: Geromel

Academica:
Pedro Roma, Orlando, Litos, Kaka, Pedro Costa, Paulo Sergio, Pavlovic (Joeano, 82), N’Doye, Lito, Ivanildo (Miguel Pedro, 76), Vouho (Helder Barbosa, 56)
Yellow Cards: Ivanildo, Mrdakovic

Goals:
[0-1] Pavlovic, 21
[1-1] Ghilas, 51
[2-1] Mrdakovic, 69