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All square in Lisbon derby

Sporting 1-1 Benfica

Honours were shared in a typically lively Lisbon derby last night as Sporting and Benfica drew 1-1.

Vukcevic put the Lions into an early lead but Oscar Cardozo’s first-half equaliser gave Benfica an important draw and kept the lead over their local rivals at five points.

As expected, both teams had high-profile absentees with Sporting striker Liedson and Benfica captain Luisao having to sit out the match through injury. An electric start to the game saw early chances at both ends of the pitch. First a corner for Benfica was cleared to Di Maria who fired a powerful shot over the bar.

Sporting responded immediately when Grimi passed to Izamilov who cleverly tricked his way past Nelson and played a wonderful ball behind the Benfica defence for Vuckcevic, who was thwarted by Quim’s razor-sharp reflexes. The Montenegrin then latched onto the resulting corner and fired in another dangerous shot that was deflected wide.

It was third time lucky for Vukcevic in the 10th minute as a superb move gave the Lions an early lead. Moutinho broke through central midfield and passed to Tiui on the wing whose fine cross was powerfully headed past the diving Quim into the back of the net by the midfielder.

Midway through the first half Vukcevic was again in evidence as his whipped cross was met by Moutinho who flashed a header narrowly over the bar.

Rui Costa danger

On 27 minutes Patricio was called into serious action for the first time and inevitably it was Rui Costa who provided the danger. An excellent 25-metre strike from the Maestro forced the young Sporting goalkeeper into a diving save to deflect the ball for a corner.

On 34 minutes Costa was again at the heart of the action when a mazy run put pressure on the Sporting defence, with the ball running loose to Maxi Pereira who hit a firm shot towards goal that Patricio pouched. One minute later the Eagles came even closer as a terrific shot from Rodriguez shaved the outside of the post with the Sporting keeper beaten.

Benfica made their pressure tell shortly afterwards as Oscar Cardozo got in front of Tonel and crashed a Rui Costa corner into the net.

As a breathless first half came to a close Tonel hit the bar with an overhead kick, although the referee had blown for offside, then Benfica again put pressure on Sporting with the combination of Rui Costa and Cristian Rodriguez causing panic, and Patricio saving a looping effort on the goal-line.

The interval seemed to settle the hosts as Sporting started the second half well. On 49 minutes Tiui battled his way into the box and almost sneaked a cheeky goal but Quim was alert to deflect his effort for a corner.

Vukcevic, Moutinho and Abel then tried their luck from distance, but at the other end Rui Costa was proving impossible to pin down and the classy midfielder showed more deft touches to set up a chance for Rodriguez, which Patricio managed to smother.

Penalty claim

On the hour mark controversy struck as Vukcevic appeared to be tripped inside the box by Leo but the referee waved away furious protests from the Sporting players. Quim then came to Benfica’s rescue yet again after Tiui played an excellent one-two with Moutinho but the Brazilian was denied at point-blank range by the Portugal goalkeeper.

Fifteen minutes from time Benfica right-back Nelson was shown a straight red card for a scything tackle on second-half substitute Celsinho. Paulo Bento immediately boosted his attack by bringing on striker Purovic for defender Abel.

Sporting poured forward in an attempt to grab all three points. Grimi and Purovic saw half chances come and go but Benfica held firm to remain favourites for a second place finish in the Bwin Liga, which will lead to automatic entry into next season’s Champions League.

Sporting:
Rui Patricio, Abel (Purovic, 77), Tonel, Polga, Grimi, Pereirinha, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Izmailov (Celsinho, 69), Tiui, Vukcevic
Yellow Cards: Abel, Grimi, Purovic

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson, Edcarlos, Katsouranis, Leo, Maxi Pereira, Binya, Di Maria (Sepsi, 74), Rui Costa (Luis Filipe, 90), Cristian Rodriguez (Zoro, 87), Cardozo
Yellow Cards: Katsouranis, Binya
Red Card: Nelson, 76

Goals:
[1-0] Vukcevic, 10
[1-1] Cardozo, 38