Porto thrash Setubal to reclaim top spot

Porto (Portugal) April 24 (IANS) FC Porto demolished Vitória Setubal 5-1 here to reclaim first place in the top division of the Portugal football league with three matches left in the season.

The hosts needed just 16 minutes during Monday evening s Primeira Liga match to take a 3-0 lead by Moussa Marega Ivan Marcano and Yacine Brahime reports EFE news agency.

João Amaral clawed one back for Setubal with a strike in the 24th minute but Jesus Corona scored for Porto in the 35th to dispel any notion of a comeback.

Porto s fifth goal came in the 72nd minute courtesy of a direct free kick by Alex Telles.

The victory boosts Porto to 79 points two ahead of Benfica who in turn have just a three-point margin over third-place Sporting.

The Primeira title comes with a berth in the 2018-2019 Champions League group stage while the runner-up gets a ticket to the qualifiers.

Setubal with 29 points are 14th in the Primeira Liga five points above the drop zone.

--IANS
ajb/