Benfica hang on for win against Belenenses

Benfica continued their winning ways in the Portuguese League with a 3-2 victory over Lisbon rivals Belenenses in Week 19 action. Bruno Lage made one change to last weekends Week 18 squad resting midfielder Gabriel and starting Taarabt in his place. Benfica got two first half goals from Carlos Vinicius on a great solo effort and the other from Taarabt who fired home an Andre Almeida header from a corner kick for his first league goal of the season. Benfica went into the half with a comfortable 2-0 lead but Belenenses came out harder in the second half and cut the lead to one goal when Lica would flick in a low cross. Benfica would though regain the two goal lead just minutes later as Carlos Vinicius would send in substitute Chiquinho in alone and he would dance around the keeper for his first league goal of the season. Belenenses though would keep fighting and were awarded a penalty when Rafa Silva would take down Varela inside the box. Lica would score his second of the game just getting the ball past an out stretched Vlachodimos but that would be as close as Belenenses would get as Benfica would hang on for the victory. Benfica will now travel to Porto next weekend as they get set to take on FC Porto in the Classico, were a Benfica win over second place Porto could put this league season in their hands.