Benfica easily defeat Estoril to begin Primeira Liga title defense

Published Aug. 16, 2015 6:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

LISBON

Portugal - Benfica routed Estoril 4-0 with a late flurry of goals to start its defense of the Portuguese league title and give new coach Rui Vitoria a winning home debut on Sunday.

Striker Konstantinos Mitroglou, who joined Benfica on loan from English club Fulham last week, broke through in the 74th minute by heading in a cross from Nicolas Gaitan.

Jonas got his first of two goals four minutes later when he converted a penalty after Mattheus handled the ball in the area. The Brazilian forward struck again in the 81st before Nelson Semedo polished off the opening win in the 89th. Vitoria left Guimaraes this summer to replace former manager Jorge Jesus after the coach stunned Benfica's fans by taking over at city rival Sporting Lisbon.