Soccer-Sporting inflict second defeat of season on leaders Porto

LISBON Jan 27 (Reuters) - Leaders Porto suffered their second league defeat of the season as they went down 2-0 at rivals Sporting on Sunday, but remain comfortably top of the Portuguese Premier League.

The champions lead the standings with 41 points from 17 matches, followed by Benfica, who beat Vitoria Guimaraes 3-1 away on Saturday, on 33.

Sporting climbed to third with 30 points while Guimaraes are fourth on 28.

A blunder by Brazilian goalkeeper Helton, who let the ball through his legs, allowed Montenegrin midfielder Simon Vukcevic to put Sporting in front after 12 minutes.

Sporting, unbeaten at home this season, doubled the lead three minutes later when Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov headed home from close range after Helton failed to fend off a Vukcevic effort.

Porto applied most of the pressure in the second half but were let down by poor finishing.

The referee disallowed a goal by Porto's Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez for offside after eight minutes. (Reporting by Carlos Pontes; editing by Miles Evans)