Soccer-Sporting and Benfica share spoils in Lisbon derby

LISBON, March 2 (Reuters) - Benfica missed a chance to cut the gap on Portuguese Premier League leaders Porto when they drew 1-1 with Sporting in the Lisbon derby on Sunday.

Porto, who drew 0-0 at Boavista on Saturday, stayed comfortably on top with 51 points from 21 matches followed by Benfica on 39 and Vitoria Guimaraes, who drew 0-0 at Braga, on 35.

Six of the weekend's fixtures ended in draws with only Vitoria Setubal beating Uniao Leiria 2-0 on Saturday

Montenegrin midfielder Simon Vukcevic put Sporting in front with a header from a deep cross by Brazilian winger Tiui after 11 minutes.

Benfica equalised six minutes from the break when Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo headed home a corner from the left by captain Rui Costa.

Benfica ended the match with 10 men after defender Nelson was sent off in the 76th minute for chopping down Sporting's Brazilian winger Celsinho. (Reporting by Carlos Pontes; Editing by Ed Osmond)