Portugal round-up: Sporting untroubled by new boys

Sporting Clube de Portugal began the defence of their first division crown with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of newly-promoted Clube Académica de Coimbra.

Own goal
Winger Ricardo Quaresma opened the scoring two minutes before the break after a fine ball from Ricardo Fernandes, driving a low shot past goalkeeper Pedro Roma. The lead was doubled when Coimbra defender Tonel deflected a César Prates cross into his own net on 63 minutes.

Eagles’ revenge
Sporting’s city rivals SL Benfica made an equally solid start, despatching CS Marítimo 3-0. Zlatko Zahovic and Tiago both scored before Simão Sabrosa buried a penalty as The Eagles exacted revenge for failing to defeat the Madeira side on four separate occasions last season.

Honours even
FC Porto, another of Portuguese football’s traditional giants, could only manage a draw with another Lisbon side, CF Os Belenenses, leaving it late to level through Lithuanian international striker Edgaras Jankauskas. Under-21 striker Hélder Postiga scored the other for Porto, while Neca hit a brace for the visitors.

Quick-starters Paços
FC Paços Ferreira defeated Varzim SC 3-1, scoring twice inside 20 minutes through Paulo Sousa and Pedrinha; Zé Nando adding a third with eight minutes remaining. UD Leiria, meanwhile, came unstuck 2-1 at home against Vitória Guimarães, going down to goals from Ricardo Silva and Adriano Bessa.

Quim return
SC Braga held out for a scoreless draw against Azores side CD Santa Clara in a match heralding Portuguese international goalkeeper Quim’s return to action after a six-month ban for using the banned substance nandrolone. The shot-stopper proved his reflexes remain in tact by scurrying to save a penalty soon after the restart.

Fary magic
Elsewhere, Gil Vicente FC deprived CD Nacional of three points with a 1-0 win, while SC Beira Mar defeated Moreirense FC 2-1. Senagalese striker Fary Faye thundered a powerful winner for Beira Mar from six metres.