Portugal: Sporting clinches second place

LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Liedson's 14th and 15th goals of the season helped Sporting beat lowly Setubal 2-1 and clinch at least second place in the Portuguese league on Saturday.

The result at Sporting's Jose Alvalade Stadium means leader Porto will win a fourth straight Portuguese championship on Sunday if it beats visiting Nacional, a team it has beaten in their past seven league meetings.

Also on Saturday, Benfica's disappointing season continued with a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened visitor Trofense.

Porto has 63 points and Sporting 60. Benfica follows with 53, four more than Nacional.

Liedson opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he took advantage of uncertainty in Setubal's defense to take possession and shoot home.

Bruno Gama fired Setubal's equalizer 12 minutes later after being found unmarked by Leandro Lima's pass.

With the match heading for a draw, Liedson fired Sporting's winning goal in the last minute to secure its place in next season's Champions League qualifying round.

Benfica began badly and fell behind on the half-hour when Valdomiro headed home for Trofense.

Oscar Cardozo equalized five minutes later from Pablo Aimar's pass, and the Paraguayan striker doubled his tally in the 38th with a header from Matias Urreta's cross.

However, Trofense stunned Benfica with Paulinho's 58th-minute header from close range.

Sunday's other games are: Naval vs. Amadora; Pacos Ferreira vs. Maritimo; and Leixoes vs. Academica.

On Friday, Rio Ave won 1-0 at Guimaraes.

Last-place Belenenses hosts Braga on Monday.

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