Unwilling to give into Porto's commanding lead at the top of the Liga table, Sporting Lisbon and Guimaraes kept up their distant pursuit with respective 2-1 victories tonight.

Sporting clinched an away win over Academica with first-half goals from Jaime Valdes - a ninth-minute penalty - and Simon Vukcevic. Miguel Fidalgo ensured the second half would remain competitive by halving the deficit a minute after the interval but no equaliser was forthcoming.

Second-placed Guimaraes did not have things so much their own way, requiring an 82nd-minute Miguel Garcia own goal to see off ten-man Sporting Braga. Alan put the visitors in front but was sent off a minute after Maranhao's 44th-minute equaliser and the hosts eventually took advantage with the help of their opponents' left-back.

Guimaraes are now seven points adrift of Porto, who play Portimonense tomorrow. Sporting are three points further back in fourth place.