Taremi the top scorer in Portuguese top flight but Porto finishes runner-up
Mehdi Taremi capped off a glittering campaign with a goal in Porto’s 3-0 home victory over Vitoria SC on the final day of the Primeira Liga season.
Taremi’s eighth-minute strike on Saturday saw the Iranian international finish as the leading marksman in the Portuguese top-flight with 22 goals – three clear of Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos.
Former Persepolis striker tapped in into the roof of the net to round off a Porto’s counter-attack in style before Otavio and Evanilson netted in the space of seven minutes to seal the victory in the first half.
However, the result proved not to be enough for Sergio Conceicao’s men as Benfica also defeated Santa Clara 3-0, courtesy of goals from Ramos, Rafa Silva and Alex Grimaldo, to pip Porto to the title – a record-extending 38th league trophy for The Eagles and a first since 2019.
Benfica’s season ended with only four defeats in all competitions, with three of them coming in the space of nine days in April.
Porto will still have the chance to finish the campaign with silverware when taking on Braga in Taça de Portugal final next Sunday.
Taremi has bagged 31 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for Porto this season, including five in the UEFA Champions League which saw the Dragons win the group before a last-16 exit against Inter.
Taremi’s four goals against Famalicao last weekend saw the Iranian overtake Brazilian Hulk into third place of Porto’s all-time top scorers.
Brazilian Mario Jardel tops the list with a remarkable 168 strikes, followed by retired Colombian Jackson Martinez (92) and Taremi, who scored his 80th goal for Porto on Saturday.
Having joined the Dragons from Rio Ave on a four-year deal in 2020, Taremi, 30, has been linked in recent weeks with a move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer to sign for Al Hilal, but Jardel, in an interview with the Porto-based newspaper O Jogo on Friday, urged the Iranian to stay in the club and take aim at his record.