Three-time defending champion Benfica held on to the leadership of the Women’s Football League today, beating bottom-placed Länk Vilaverdense 4-0 at home, in the 20th and third-to-last round of the competition.
With two rounds to play, the ‘red’ team remained with two points of advantage (50 against 48) over Sporting, second placed, who thrashed Marítimo away, with whom they had drawn at home (1-1), by 7-0.
At Seixal, Kika Nazareth scored twice, with goals in the 10th and 41st minutes, to reinforce the lead of the competition’s scorers, now with 17 goals, while defenders Ana Seiça, at 63, and Carole Costa, at 90+4, completed the result.
For their part, Sporting had an even easier time in Madeira, where at half-time they were already leading 3-0, with goals from Jacinta Gala, in the fourth minute, Fátima Dutra, in the 40th, and Olívia Smith, in the 44th.
After the break, Simith scored twice, in the 49th minute, and Joana Martins, in the 56th minute, from a penalty, Diana Silva, in the 58th, and Maiara Niehues, in the 80th, also scored.
In the last two rounds, Benfica travels to Valadares Gaia and hosts Racing Power, while Sporting, who is two points behind and has an advantage in direct confrontations, plays away against Ouriense and Damaiense.
The next meeting of the two teams is scheduled for Wednesday, the day on which Benfica and Sporting face each other in the League Cup final, starting at 5:45 pm, at Estádio do Restelo, in Lisbon.
