SC Braga go top in Portugal as Casa Benfica let lead slip

Two wins in two days saw Sporting and SC Braga overtake Casa Benfica in the Elite Beach Soccer League table

Matchdays 5 and 6 of the Portuguese Elite Beach Soccer League saw the table change dramatically as Sporting and Braga begin to build form and Casa Benfica’s unbeaten run comes to an end.

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 May saw the return of the Portuguese Elite League, and Lisbon was the host venue of the round’s eight matches.

SC Braga, who were dethroned by Sporting CP in the 2020 edition, took two more wins over bottom place GR Amigos Paz and Varzim to hit 14 points and move into first position in the league.

It was a similar story for the defending champions Sporting, who first downed Varzim and then AD Buarcos to remain two points behind Braga.

Casa Benfica Loures had been leading the race after the first three games, having remained unbeaten, but in a severe drop in form, they now find themselves in third place on just eight points. Saturday’s match saw them lose to AD Buarcos on penalties and thenon Sunday they fell the wrong side of a tight 6-5 scoreline against GD Chaves.

Behind Casa Benfica, in fourth and fifth place, are CD Chaves and ACD Sótão. The Nazaré side took their first two victories of the campaign to reach six points, while Buarcos sit behind them on five.

Varzim remain on one point after losing twice over the weekend, and below them in eighth are GR Amigos Paz, who are yet to register a win in the 2021 league.

The league returns on Saturday 5 June where Sporting will face Casa Benfica Loures, Braga meet AD Buarcos, GR Amigos Paz take on Chaves, and the last match will see Varzim SC face ACD Sótão.

The league will consist of 14 matchdays played in eight different locations around Portugal. Matches will be broadcast on Canal 11. For full details of the Portuguese Elite Beach Soccer League, head to www.fpf.pt/

Saturday 29 May

Sporting CP 5 – 4 Varzim SC
SC Braga 8 – 1 GR Amigos Paz
ACD Sótão 4 – 3 GD Chaves
CB Loures 2(5) – (6)2 AD Buarcos

Sunday 30 May

GD Chaves 6 – 5 CB Loures
Varzim SC 2 – 5 SC Braga
GR Amigos Paz 1 – 5 ACD Sótão
AD Buarcos 1 – 5 Sporting CP

STANDINGS

1 – SC Braga 14

2 – Sporting CP 12

3 – CB Loures 8

4 – GD Chaves 6

5 – ACD O Sótão 6

6 – AD Buarcos 5

7 – Varzim SC 1