Liga Sagres: Uniao de Leiria 1 Maritimo 3

A double from Kleber helped Maritimo to a 3-1 triumph over Uniao de Leiria on Friday, moving the winners into seventh on the Liga Sagres table.

Both sides can still harbour hopes of snaring a Europa League qualification spot at season’s end after solid campaigns.

But it is Maritimo who can afford to dream a little bigger, with the convincing result moving them above Leiria and within just two points of fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes in the last Europa League spot, ahead of the rest of the weekend’s league programme.

Leiria could not have got off to a worse start when midfielder Paulo Vinicius was sent off for his second bookable offence in the 14th minute.

Maritimo made their advantage count, taking a 38th-minute lead when 20-year-old Brazilian striker Kleber got on the end of a chip over the Leiria defence to volley home on his left foot.

Leiria received a way back into the game on 51 minutes after Maritimo defender Alonso – a 21st-minute injection into the game – picked his second yellow card in as many minutes to follow Paulo Vinicius down the tunnel.

But instead it was his side who doubled their advantage, with Kleber cutting back from wide on the left to find Tunisia midfielder Selim Benachour.

His crisp drive squarely hit the left upright, but Angola striker Djalma was on hand to tap in and make it 2-0.

Leiria briefly raised hopes of a comeback when on-loan Everton forward Joao Silva nodded past Maritimo goalkeeper Marcelo Boeck in the 63rd minute, but Kleber made the points safe three minutes later with his close-range header.

Sat 2 April, 2011

Liga Sagres: Uniao de Leiria 1 Maritimo 3

A double from Kleber helped Maritimo to a 3-1 triumph over Uniao de Leiria on Friday, moving the winners into seventh on the Liga Sagres table.

Both sides can still harbour hopes of snaring a Europa League qualification spot at season’s end after solid campaigns.

But it is Maritimo who can afford to dream a little bigger, with the convincing result moving them above Leiria and within just two points of fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes in the last Europa League spot, ahead of the rest of the weekend’s league programme.

Leiria could not have got off to a worse start when midfielder Paulo Vinicius was sent off for his second bookable offence in the 14th minute.

Maritimo made their advantage count, taking a 38th-minute lead when 20-year-old Brazilian striker Kleber got on the end of a chip over the Leiria defence to volley home on his left foot.

Leiria received a way back into the game on 51 minutes after Maritimo defender Alonso – a 21st-minute injection into the game – picked his second yellow card in as many minutes to follow Paulo Vinicius down the tunnel.

But instead it was his side who doubled their advantage, with Kleber cutting back from wide on the left to find Tunisia midfielder Selim Benachour.

His crisp drive squarely hit the left upright, but Angola striker Djalma was on hand to tap in and make it 2-0.

Leiria briefly raised hopes of a comeback when on-loan Everton forward Joao Silva nodded past Maritimo goalkeeper Marcelo Boeck in the 63rd minute, but Kleber made the points safe three minutes later with his close-range header.

Sat 2 April, 2011

Liga Sagres: Sporting Lisbon 0 Uniao de Leiria 0

Stuttering Sporting Lisbon were held to a goalless draw at home by Uniao de Leiria in Saturday’s sole Liga Sagres fixture.

It was a battle of two out of-form sides that have struggled in the last couple of months, highlighted by the fact Sporting, who sit third on the table, entered the game with just one win in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Uniao have fared no better and entered the encounter with just one win from their last nine matches and had amazingly only found the back of the net twice in that period.

Both managers rung the changes throughout the match, mainly to their attacking players, but the substitutions from Jose Couciero and Pedro Caixinha yielded no benefit as both sides were forced to share the spoils.

Sun 20 March, 2011

Liga Sagres: Sporting Lisbon 0 Uniao de Leiria 0

Stuttering Sporting Lisbon were held to a goalless draw at home by Uniao de Leiria in Saturday’s sole Liga Sagres fixture.

It was a battle of two out of-form sides that have struggled in the last couple of months, highlighted by the fact Sporting, who sit third on the table, entered the game with just one win in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Uniao have fared no better and entered the encounter with just one win from their last nine matches and had amazingly only found the back of the net twice in that period.

Both managers rung the changes throughout the match, mainly to their attacking players, but the substitutions from Jose Couciero and Pedro Caixinha yielded no benefit as both sides were forced to share the spoils.

Sun 20 March, 2011

Liga Sagres: Unioa de Leiria 0 Vitoria Guimaraes 1

A tense 1-0 win has helped Vitoria Guimaraes put valuable breathing space between them and Uniao de Leiria on the Liga Sagres table.

Both sides have performed well this season, with Guimaraes sitting in fifth and just one point above Leiria before kick-off on Friday.

The duo can both dream of earning a Europa League place if they can maintain their good form, though Guimaraes now have a handy four-point buffer on their rivals after Joao Alves’ lone strike handed his side the three points.

On-loan Everton forward Joao Silva had gone close to giving Leiria the lead in the first half when his well-struck shot glanced the wrong side of the upright, but just minutes later the visitors took the lead when Alves’ effort from distance beat Brazilian goalkeeper Eduardo Gottardi.

Guimaraes held on for the win to put them within just one point of third-placed Sporting Lisbon, though the capital club have a game in hand.

Leiria’s spot on the table is under threat, with five clubs – including Sporting Braga – now within a win of knocking them from fifth spot.

Fri 18 February, 2011

Liga Sagres: Unioa de Leiria 0 Vitoria Guimaraes 1

A tense 1-0 win has helped Vitoria Guimaraes put valuable breathing space between them and Uniao de Leiria on the Liga Sagres table.

Both sides have performed well this season, with Guimaraes sitting in fifth and just one point above Leiria before kick-off on Friday.

The duo can both dream of earning a Europa League place if they can maintain their good form, though Guimaraes now have a handy four-point buffer on their rivals after Joao Alves’ lone strike handed his side the three points.

On-loan Everton forward Joao Silva had gone close to giving Leiria the lead in the first half when his well-struck shot glanced the wrong side of the upright, but just minutes later the visitors took the lead when Alves’ effort from distance beat Brazilian goalkeeper Eduardo Gottardi.

Guimaraes held on for the win to put them within just one point of third-placed Sporting Lisbon, though the capital club have a game in hand.

Leiria’s spot on the table is under threat, with five clubs – including Sporting Braga – now within a win of knocking them from fifth spot.

Fri 18 February, 2011