FC Porto came from behind to beat Casa Pia 4-1 in the sixth round of Portugal's Primeira Liga, extending their unbeaten start to a perfect 18 points from six games and moving five clear at the top of the table before hosting Benfica.
In the first minute, Porto had already appealed for a penalty when Casa Pia goalkeeper Ivan Mandic appeared to catch defender Jan Bednarek late as both challenged for a corner, but the referee waved play on. Porto came closest to scoring in the sixth minute, when Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga struck the post with a shot from outside the box.
Casa Pia, who inflicted Porto's only defeat of last season, took the lead in the 43rd minute. The penalty was awarded after Porto's Pablo Rosario, trying to clear a cross from inside the box, caught Casa Pia forward Selvi Clua. Henrique Araújo, a former Benfica player in his first season with the Lisbon club, converted it calmly for his first goal of the campaign.
Porto levelled three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Alberto Costa won a header from a corner, Pablo Rosario held off the Casa Pia defence, and André Silva finished from close range for the equaliser.
Porto's Second-Half Surge
The turnaround was completed after the break. Polish defender Jakub Kiwior headed Porto in front in the 60th minute, again from a Gabri Veiga corner. Six minutes later, substitute Borja Sainz, on the pitch only a few minutes, pounced without letting the ball drop after a poor clearance from Angolan defender Kaly to make it 3-1.
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept Casa Pia at bay with two second-half saves, tipping a long-range effort from Selvi Clua over the bar and then getting across his goal to stop a chip from inside his own half.
In stoppage time, substitute Santiago Giménez missed the ball in the box but was bundled over by Mandic, who was booked for the foul and conceded a penalty.
Giménez, the Mexican forward who had been searching for his first goal since joining Porto, sent the resulting spot kick into the middle of the goal to make it 4-1 in the first minute of added time.
Porto Extend Lead at the Top
Porto also had Kiwior booked for protests before half-time, while Casa Pia's André Geraldes and Khaly were cautioned in the second half, the latter for a foul on André Silva.
The win took Francesco Farioli's Porto side, nicknamed the Dragons, to 18 points from six matches, five clear of their nearest rivals. Porto's next league game is at home to Benfica, who host Gil Vicente on Sunday, while Sporting face a tougher trip to Famalicão.
Casa Pia remain bottom of the table with just one point from six matches, having also lost their previous fixture at Vitória de Guimarães.
Alverca Win First Game Under New Nacional Coach
In Madeira, Alverca claimed their first league victory of the season, beating Nacional 3-1 on Alexandre Santos's debut as Nacional head coach. Santos took charge after João Gião's departure; Bruno Abreu had been placed in interim charge, promoted from the youth ranks, for Nacional's previous match against Sporting.
Francisco Chissumba put Alverca ahead in the 34th minute after pouncing on a loose ball inside the box. Dawda Camara then scored twice in quick succession, heading in on 36 minutes before turning home a deflected effort on 42. Matchói Djaló pulled a goal back for Nacional in the 81st minute, but it was not enough.
The defeat was Nacional's fourth in a row in the league and their first under Santos. They sit 13th with four points, while Alverca moved up to 10th with five.
Académico de Viseu Host Vitória de Guimarães
Also on Saturday, Académico de Viseu host Vitória de Guimarães. Viseu have yet to collect a point at home this season, while Guimarães have lost both of their away matches so far.
