Soccer-Race for Champions League places heats up in Portugal

LISBON, April 27 (Reuters) - Sporting beat Maritimo 2-1 and champions Porto thrashed Vitoria Guimaraes 5-0 in the Portuguese Premier League on Sunday as the battle for Champions League places heated up.

With two matches left, Porto stretched their lead at the top of the standings to 23 points while Sporting and Guimaraes were level on second place on 49 points. Benfica, who beat Belenenses 2-0 at home on Saturday, are fourth one point behind.

Porto, who rested several key players went ahead when defender Bruno Alves headed home a free-kick from defender Lino after 53 minutes.

Winger Ricardo Quaresma scored twice in succession, the first with one angled shot to the far post after 59 minutes and 12 minutes later with an individual effort.

Argentine striker Ernesto Farias and Brazilian striker Adriano completed the 23rd victory in 28 matches for Porto.

Maritimo went ahead in the first minute of their match at Sporting with an acrobatic volley by winger Bruno Fogaca.

Argentine midfielder Romagnoli scored for Sporting from a penalty after he was brought down by Maritimo French defender Arnolin Gregory after 19 minutes, and then clinched the three points with a looping shot over stranded Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos after 52 minutes. (Reporting by Carlos Pontes; Editing by John Mehaffey)