May 11, 2008 4:36 PM

SOURCE:
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Portuguese champion FC Porto ends league season with 2-0 win at Naval

Ernesto Farias scored twice to help champion FC Porto win 2-0 at Naval on Saturday in the final round of the Portuguese league season.

Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira rested eight first-team players, including league leading scorer Lisandro Lopez, with a view to the Portuguese Cup final on May 18 against Sporting Lisbon.

However, Farias, an Argentine reserve striker, compensated with goals from a header in the 37th minute and a shot in the 41st minute.

Porto's win was its 24th in 30 matches. Ferreira's side has only dropped 15 points all season.

In Saturday's other games, Belenenses won 2-1 at Nacional and Braga beat Academica 2-1.

Porto, which clinched its third straight title on April 5, finished with 75 points to be 23 ahead.

However, the champion could lose six points if an appeal against its sentence for attempted match-fixing fails next week. The league's disciplinary committee ruled Friday that Porto tried to bribe referees in two matches in the 2003-04 season.

Also, Boavista is appealing its relegation to the second division after being found guilty of trying to coerce referees in three games during the same season. Leiria, already relegated this season, was docked three points for trying to bribe match officials in 2003-04.

Braga rallied after falling behind to Academica forward Lito's 48th-minute header.

Substitute Matheus headed in Braga's game-tying goal in the 57th minute, with another replacement, Joao Tomas, scoring the game's third headed goal in the 80th minute.

Belenenses also came from behind against Nacional, which opened the scoring in the 48th minute through Fabio Coentrao's left-footed shot.

The visitors replied through Weldon's header in the 49th minute and Joao Paulo's header eight minutes later.

Nacional's Bruno Patacas was sent off on the hour.

Sporting is second with 52 points, two more than Guimaraes. Benfica is next with 49 points, four more than Setubal.

On Sunday, Sporting will gain a place into the Champions League group phase if it wins or draws against Boavista.

If the Lisbon club loses, Guimaraes will reach the group stages and make its debut in Europe's top club competition by winning its home match against Amadora. The third-place team enters the Champions League qualifying round.

Benfica and Setubal, which meet on Sunday, are likely to take Portugal's two UEFA Cup places.

Sunday's other games are: Leiria versus Pacos Ferreira; and Leixoes versus Maritimo.