GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-1197233282945943", "Star_Sports_Skyscraper");

Sports

Published: Monday May 18, 2009 MYT 6:54:00 AM
Updated: Monday May 18, 2009 MYT 7:46:03 AM

Benfica finishes third in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal (AP): Oscar Cardozo, Angel Di Maria and Matias Urreta all scored Sunday to help Benfica win 3-1 at Braga and ensure a third-place finish in the Portuguese league.

Cardozo headed home from Costas Katsouranis's cross in the seventh minute, with Di Maria intercepting a back-pass and firing home six minutes later.

Urreta combined with Di Maria and scored the visitors' third goal in the 47th. Benfica substitute Hassan Yebda was ejected in the 67th, 11 minutes after coming on in place of Katsouranis.

Luis Aguiar scored Braga's consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, just before Benfica coach Quique Sanchez Flores received a red card for protesting.

Benfica's win confirms the Lisbon team's place in the Europa League next season, although that is unlikely to satisfy the club's fans after a disappointing season.

In Sunday's other game, Nacional beat Pacos Ferreira 1-0 on Cleber's 81st-minute close-range goal and moved into fourth place.

With one match remaining, champion Porto has 69 points, six points ahead of Sporting. Benfica follows with 56, four more than Nacional and five clear of Braga.

On Saturday, Porto won 4-1 at Trofense, while Sporting beat Maritimo 2-1. Other results were: Setubal 0, Leixoes 1; Amadora 1, Guimaraes 0; Academica 3, Naval 1; and Belenenses 1, Rio Ave 0.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll