Sporting 2-4 Benfica: Eagles ease to thrilling victory

Benfica ran out 4-2 winners against Sporting CP in a match that had goals and drama in abundance. 

It was Seferovic that got on the scoresheet first, nodding the ball past Ribeiro into the back of the net after meeting the looping cross of Alex Grimaldo.

Teenage star João Felix thought he made it 2-0 after thrashing the ball into the bottom corner from well outside the box, but the referee, upon VAR consultation, ruled out the goal due to a foul in the build up.

However, Felix didn't have to wait long to get his 5th goal in 10 league outings when Seferovic turned provider, slotting through the 19-year old who calmly steered the ball beyond Ribeiro.

Sporting found the back of the net just before the break though, Nani nicking the ball off Andreas Samaris in midfield before playing in Bruno Fernandes, who lashed a thunderous drive into the base of the goal. 

However, Benfica were always in control and, just two minutes after the restart, doubled their advantage yet again, Ruben Dias heading home from a Pizzi free-kick delivery.

And Benfica's advantage was only extended further after João Felix burst into the box before being taken down by Ribeiro, the resultant penalty converted by Pizzi to make it 4-1 to Benfica in Sporting's own backyard.

Benfica very nearly made it 5-1 in Sporting's backyard, Seferovic first striking the post before João Felix was unable up get his second of the night, blazing over on the rebound.

That wasn't the end of the action, though, after the referee, with the assistance of VAR yet again, awarded another penalty, this time to Sporting, sending goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos off in the process.

Bas Dost, as he so often does, converted, narrowing the scoreline but unable to change the overall outcome as Sporting fell eight points behind Benfica - and 11 behind table-topping Porto, who drew against Guimarães.