The weather at Paços de Ferreira’s Mata Real Stadium was far from ideal for fast attacking football but the home side adjusted better to the conditions than their illustrious opponents FC Porto. Just after the half-hour mark a Filipe Ferreira cross picked out Miguel Vieira at the near-post to give Paços de Ferreira the lead. FC Porto nearly levelled through Vincent Aboubakar but the home side went in at the break with their lead intact.
The Dragons had a great opportunity to make it one apiece when Felipe was impeded in the sixty-sixth minute but Yacine Brahimi had his spot-kick well saved by Felgueiras.
Paços de Ferreira held on for only their second win of 2018 and in the process inflicted the first defeat of the league season on FC Porto.
Reigning champions Benfica needed to beat Desportivo Aves if they were to take advantage of FC Porto’s slip and close the gap at the top. Despite the efforts of Rafa Silva and Jonas, the Eagles went in at the break with nothing to show for their endeavours. That all changed after the interval with Benfica beginning to pepper the Aves goal with greater frequency, enabling Jonas to break the deadlock in the seventieth minute from Franco Cervi’s cut-back.
Ruben Dias then secured all-three points just five minutes later, as he reacted first to Raúl Jiménez’s strike to slot home the rebound. Sporting knew they had to win at Chaves to keep alive their outside chance of catching the top two.
Jorge Jesus once again had to shuffle his starting line-up due to injuries and he had keeper Rui Patrício to thank for several first-half saves which keep the score sheet blank at the interval. Bas Dost joined the fray in the second-half and it was no surprise when the Dutchman nodded home after good work on the left by Ruben Ribeiro. Rodrigo Battaglia then protected Sporting’s advantage with a goal-line clearance before making an immediate impact at the other end.
From the right-back position, Battaglia battled for possession deep in the final third before squaring a pass across goal to Bas Dost who had the easiest of tasks to tap home goal number two, five minutes from time.
There was still time though for Chaves to pull a goal back from the penalty spot through Platiny.
SC Portimonense continue impressive progress in their first season back in the top flight.
An eighteenth minute strike from Carvalho gave them the lead at home to Vitória de Guimarães. The visitors drew level four minutes later as Raphinha found the back of the net but their joy was short-lived when keeper Douglas was sent-off on the half-hour mark.
Portimonense secured victory against the ten men when Pires scored in the sixty-sixth minute. The victory propelled the Portimão side into the top half of the league although they deserve better support than the 1,830 fans who turned up for this game.