Sporting defeats Benfica 3-0 for first win in 9 years

Lisbon: Sporting CP defeated SL Benfica 3-0 in the Portuguese league in what was their first win in nine years against Benfica in Estadio de Luz (Benfica Stadium) here.

The win marked the first victory for former Benfica manager Jorge Jesus against his former club in Benfica stadium who left the club in June to manage Sporting.

Sporting got off to a fast start in Sunday's matinee with Colombian forward Teo Gutierrez scoring in just the ninth minute of the opening half against Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar, Xinhua reported.

Eleven minutes later, Algerian forward Islam Slimani doubled the lead.

Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz added the third goal in the 36th minute of the first half.

The win placed Sporting atop the league with 20 points, two more than FC Porto who tied with SC Braga 0-0 on Sunday night.

Benfica currently sits in the eighth place with 12 points.

The win also marked the first home defeat for Benfica in a Portuguese league match since the March of 2012.