LISBON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Porto beat Rio Ave 2-1 on Sunday night to share the leadership of the Portuguese soccer league with Sporting Lisbon, who were 2-0 victors over Tondela on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Danila and Marega set Porto up for an impressive away victory after a goalless opening period. Nuno Santos pulled one back for Rio Ave with ten minutes to go, but the visitors' defense held out to maintain the Dragons' perfect start to the championship.
Sporting are likewise six wins from as many games, with goals from Mathieu and Bruno Fernandes ensuring a comfortable home win for the Lions, and former player Cristiano Ronaldo watching from the stands.
Porto and Sporting are thus joint-top on 18 points, with Porto in pole position thanks to a plus-13 goal difference, versus Sporting's plus-12.
Benfica slumped to fourth place after losing 2-1 at Boavista on Saturday. The Eagles were leading 1-0 at the interval, Brazilian striker Jonas scoring his seventh of the season, but second-half goals from Renato Santos and Fabio Espinho turned things around for the home side.
Benfica's goalkeeper, Bruno Varela, was severely at fault for the winning goal, further contributing to a gloomy week for Eagles fans: having lost 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Benfica are now 5 points behind their rivals Porto and Sporting in the Portuguese soccer league.
