Benfica needed a penalty deep in stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win over Academica that keeps them level-pegging with Porto at the top of the Liga standings.

The hosts dominated possession but could not convert their superiority into goals until four minutes into injury time when Nicolas Gaitan was fouled in the area and Rodrigo Lima stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty.

There was still time for more late drama as Helder Cabral saw red.

Third-placed Pacos Ferreira slipped 14 points off the leading duo as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Nacional.

Semedo Cicero fired Pacos in front on 22 minutes but Bruno Moreira levelled 12 minutes from the end.

Sami and David Simao scored in the first half to lift Maritimo to a 2-1 win over Estoril, who replied through Evandro Goebel just before the hour.

Both teams ended with 10 men as Maritimo's Suk Hyunjun and Yohan Tavares of Estoril picked up second bookings after the break.

Leonel Olimpio's eighth-minute penalty saw Guimaraes to a 1-0 win over bottom side Moreirense, while Vitoria Setubal were victors by the same scoreline at Olhanense, Paulo Tavares with the only goal after 81 minutes.