By ,
Published November 20, 2014
FC Porto closed out 2011 with a 2-0 win man Maritimo on Saturday to end the year tied atop the league table with Benfica.
The win is the third straight for the club and keeps them level with Benfica on 33 points through 13 games, with Porto holding a small edge in goal difference.
Maritimo made life difficult for itself as Valentin Roberge collected his second yellow card in the 41st minute, but it wasn't until the 80th minute that the home side took advantage as Cristian Rodriguez tallied his sixth goal of the season to put Porto in front.
The result was secured three minutes later when an own goal from Maritimo's Miguel Pereira doubled the lead.
Benfica fell behind Rio Ave on Friday in the opening 24 minutes but responded with five unanswered goals to win 5-1, staying level with Porto.
Third-place Sporting Lisbon needed a goal from Elias 10 minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw at Academica, dropping the team six points off the pace of the leaders, while Sunday's other games saw Nacional and Setubal finish 1-1, Feirense top Uniao Leiria 2-1 behind two goals from Bedi Buval and Beira Mar hand Pacos Ferreira a 3-0 home defeat.
In Saturday's other match, Guimaraes and Gil Vicente played to a 1-1 draw while the weekend rounded out on Monday with Braga coming from two goals down to secure a 4-3 win at Olhanense.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/porto-closes-out-2011-on-winning-note