Sporting and Braga win on Holy Friday

Sporting and Braga both pulled out victorys on Good Friday, Sporting got their fans to quickly forget last weekends loss in Madeira with a thumping at the Estadio Avalade over Rio Ave. Sporting was quick to open the scoring with Yannick's low shot into the right corner at the 7th minute mark. Liedson doubled the lead before the half when he out leaped the Rio Ave defender and headed home a Helder Postiga cross. Yannick scored his second of the game at the 57th minute mark on a pass from Liedson, next up was Joao Moutinho who let a rocket go from just outside the box and Sporting where now up 4-0. Yannick finished out the scoring at the 75th minute mark picking up his hat trick, once again from a Liedson feed and Sporting with the win now move five points clear of Guimaraes in the battle for fourth place.

Earlier up in Braga, the regional derby between Braga and Guimaraes was set to take place. The visitors opened the scoring at the 17th minute mark when Rui Miguel placed the ball in the top corner out of the reach of Eduardo. Braga tied the game up before the half when Andrezinho was called for a hand ball in the box and Alan stepped up and converted the from the penalty spot. The second half saw its most dramatic action in the final 15 minutes when Braga was awarded another penalty kick when Renteria was dragged down in the box at the 80th minute mark and he converted to give Braga a 2-1 lead. Then at the 91st minute mark Guimaraes was awarded a penalty kick which was converted by Andrezinho to tie the game up again but the game still had more to come. Renteria was again interfered with at the 94th minute mark when he had a slight tug on his jersey and got the call and once again Braga were heading to the penalty spot, this kicked off a flurry of red cards for Guimaraes as they protested the call Andrezinho, Demarets and Joao Alves where all given red cards joining Valdomiro for a total of 4 red cards in the game. Braga returned for the third time in the game to the penalty spot. Meyong stepped up to the spot and scored his second goal of the game and Braga went 3 for 3 from the spot much to the dismay of Guimaraes keeper Nilson as Braga went on to win 3-2. The win moves Braga to within three points of Benfica for first place in the Portuguese League.

In other action Nacional snapped a three game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Leixoes with Edgar Costa getting the marker