Sporting beats Porto to reclaim Portuguese league lead

Sporting’s Islam Slimani, center, scores the opening goal during a Portuguese league soccer match against Porto at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. AP

LISBON, Portugal — Islam Slimani scored once in each half to give Sporting Lisbon a 2-0 win over FC Porto that allowed it to reclaim the lead of the Portuguese league from the visitors on Saturday.

The striker opened the scoring when he headed in Jefferson’s free kick. He then secured the three points five minutes from time when he beat goalie Iker Casillas following a pass by Bryan Ruiz.

Sporting bounced back from its first defeat of the season in the last round by moving back ahead of Porto by two points through 15 rounds.

“It is an important win,” Slimani said. “We are working to win the championship.”

Elsewhere, Benfica’s Renato Sanches scored in the second half to earn a 1-0 win at Guimaraes that kept the defending champions in third place at four points behind Sporting.

Also, Moreirense beat Boavista, 3-0; Nacional and Arouca had a 2-2 draw; so was Maritimo and Estoril 1-1; Academica routed Uniao de Madeira, 3-1; Setuba and Braga fought to a 1-1 draw; and Pacos Ferreira and Belenenses also had a 2-2 stalemate.