Sporting on Friday, FC Porto on Saturday and Benfica tonight all got their 2015/16 Liga NOS campaign off to a winning start.
Porto were most impressive, sweeping aside Vitória Guimarães 3-0 at the Estádio do Dragão propelled by a superb individual performance by striker Aboubakar (pictured).
Champions Benfica may have beaten Estoril 4-0, but all the goals came in the final 20 minutes and only after Júlio César had made some excellent stops to thwart the visitors.
Sporting looked on course for a comfortable win after João Mário gave them an early lead away to Tondela, but the newcomers scored a second-half equaliser and it needed a stoppage time penalty for the Lions to claim all three points.
FC Porto 3-0 Vitória Guimarães
Porto have invested heavily and brought in a number of big names to boost their squad over the summer but have also lost several key players, no more so than striker extraordinaire Jackson Martínez - top scorer in Portugal over the last three seasons.
Several analysts have suggested Porto will struggle to replace the Colombian goal machine, but in front of 50,000 spectators Vincent Aboubakar put in a display to suggest it may not be such a problem after all. The Cameroonian was magnificent, scoring two goals, the second a stunning strike, as well as showing intelligence and awareness in combining with his team-mates and setting up chances with well-crafted passes more becoming of a creative midfielder.
Porto dominated most the match against a largely inoffensive Vitória, with Maxi Pereira enjoying a fine debut, producing sumptuous assists for the 2nd and 3rd goals, and Silvestre Varela also impressing on his return to the Dragão, netting a fine effort to complete the rout.
Tondela 1-2 Sporting
Sporting looked on course for a straight-forward win after completely swamping Tondela with some fine attacking play for the first hour of the match played in Aveiro.
However, the Lions only had a deflected first-half João Mário goal to show for it, and after Luís Alberto bundled in an equaliser for Tondela, Sporting found it hard to maintain their attacking fluidity.
A draw looked on the cards until substitute Gelson Martins won a last-gasp penalty which Adrien confidently blasted into the net to earn all three points for Jorge Jesus's side.
Benfica 4-0 Estoril
The final result suggests the season-opener was a walk in the park for the champions, yet it was anything but. A well-organised and strong counter-attacking performance by Estoril almost saw the visitors take the lead twice either side of half time, goalkeeper Júlio César saving superbly from Bonatini and Sebá either side of the interval, while at the other end captain Luisão hit the crossbar.
Benfica finally took control after a flurry of substitutions for both sides had the net effect of strengthening the hosts and weakening the visitors.
In the 74th minute the Eagles broke the deadlock, Mitroglou directing a wonderful header into the corner of the net from a pinpoint Nico Gaitán cross. Two more goals quickly followed from Jonas, the first from the penalty spot, the second another fine header from an excellent Victor Andrade cross.
Young right-back Nelson Semedo put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal finishing off a lovely flowing move. Coach Rui Vitória will be delighted to get a first win under his belt, especially given the bright performances of youngsters Semedo, Andrade, Guedes and a rejuvenated Talisca.
Other results
Belenenses 3-3 Rio Ave
Braga 2-1 Nacional
Moreirense 0-2 Arouca
Vitória Setúbal 2-2 Boavista
União da Madeira 2-1 Marítimo
Paulo Fonseca started his tenure as the new Braga coach positively as the Arsenalistas came from behind to beat Nacional at the Quarry. Soares gave the islanders a perfect start, netting after just 2 minutes, but Braga roared back and claimed all three points - despite an outstanding performance by Nacional goalkeeper Gottardi - thanks to goals from Pedro Santos (penalty) and Joan Román.
Belenenses and Rio Ave shared the points after a six-goal thriller at the Restelo on Saturday evening. Bressan gave the visitors the lead, but 3 goals in 15 minutes either side of half time from Gonçalo Brandão, Rúben Pinto and Carlos Martins (penalty) seemed to have won the game for Sá Pinto's side. However, Rio Ave refused to lie down and an own goal by Brandão and a Guedes effort made the score 3-3, and there was still time for Miguel Rosa for Belenenses and Hassan for Rio Ave to have goals controversially ruled out for offside in the dying minutes.
Boavista showed the fighting spirit that embodied the playing career of their coach, Petit, as they came from two goals down to snatch a draw at Vitória Setúbal, despite being down to 10 men. André Claro and Ruca had given the hosts a comfortable lead at the interval, and things got worse for Boavista when Idris was sent off in the 68th minute. Two quick-fire goals from Afonso Figueiredo and Luisinho gave the visitors an unlikely point.
Lito Vitigal saw his Arouca side make a fine start to the season, second-half goals from Nuno Coelho and Maurides firing his team to a 2-0 win at Moreirense.
Newly promoted União da Madeira also made a good start to life in the top flight, beating local rivals Marítimo 2-1 thanks to goals from Brietner and Élio. Dyego Sousa scored a late consolation for Marítimo.
Round one is completed on Monday evening as Paços de Ferreira host Académica.
by Tom Kundert
