Liga Sagres: Benfica 2 Porto 3

Porto have opened up a three point lead at the top of the Liga Sagres after defeating title rivals Benfica 3-2 on Friday.

Defender Maicon scored the winner for Porto with just three minutes remaining at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Emerson on 77 minutes.

After only losing for the first time this season two weeks ago against Vitoria Guimaraes, Benfica are now winless in their least three matches and have slipped three points behind their rivals in the race for the title.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Hulk broke the deadlock after just seven minutes, the Brazilian unleashing an unstoppable drive after cutting in from the right hand side which beat Artur Moraes at his near post.

Oscar Cardozo put Benfica back on level terms three minutes before the break, before giving his side the lead just after the interval, becoming the leading scorer in the league in the process.

But it all went downhill for the hosts from there, with James Rodriguez powering a shot past Moraes just after the hour mark before Emerson received his second yellow card 13 minutes later to leave Benfica a man down.

And Porto made the most of their numerical advantage three minutes from time, defender Maicon finding the back of the net to earn them a crucial three points.