Primeira Liga: Arouca 0 Belenenses 1

Jorge Simao’s men consolidated their hold on sixth position with a second straight victory, moving one point behind fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes – who occupy the final UEFA Europa League spot.

Pele’s 53rd-minute penalty was enough for the visitors to Arouca’s Estadio Municipal.

The Portuguese midfielder’s spot-kick was placed perfectly in the bottom-left corner of the net, denying Arouca goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea, who guessed correctly but was still beaten.

Belenenses’ penalty was awarded for a handball from Arouca’s Diego, the Brazilian defender punished for leaving an arm flailing when attempting a header.

Yet Pele then broke the deadlock and Arouca could not find a reply, their best chance coming when a curling free-kick from Iuri Medeiros forced Hugo Ventura into a diving save.

Belenenses’ rivals for the European places, Vitoria Guimaraes, travel to mid-table Moreirense on Saturday.