Liedson scores twice in Sporting derby win

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated SL Benfica 3-2 with two goals from Liedson in a thrilling Lisbon derby on Saturday night to join their neighbours within four points of FC Porto.

Early strike
Porto's 2-0 win at FC Paços de Ferreira on Friday had increased the stakes for the Estádio José Alvalade encounter, and Sporting got off to the perfect start with Liedson's eleventh-minute strike but José Antonio Reyes converted a penalty late in the first half to equalise. Derlei, a 27th-minute substitute after Hélder Postiga picked up a knock, restored the Sporting lead not long after the break.

Clincher
Bruno Pereirinha hit the crossbar for the home side before crossing for Liedson to put the game beyond Benfica with an 83rd-minute header, his tenth in 12 games against Sporting's neighbours. Despite substitute Óscar Cardozo's last-gasp goal for the visitors, Sporting held on for a morale-boosting win ahead of the UEFA Champions League visit of FC Bayern München on Wednesday. In the other Saturday game Rio Ave FC moved off the bottom as they beat Vitória FC 1-0 to leapfrog their opponents and three other teams into 12th.