Visiting Benfica scored twice in the final four minutes to top Académica 3-1 and close to within a point of first place Porto.

Freddy Adu worked the final 27 minutes and fired the insurance goal in the final minute.

The hosts opened the scoring on 24 minutes, with Lito banging home his fifth of the season after Luís Filipe failed to clear a mis-hit Ousmane N'Doye long shot.

Benfica went close to a quick reply, only to have Ángel Di María hit the woodwork and Ricardo stop Nuno Gomes' rebound blast.

The Eagles would draw level in the 33rd minute from a Rui Costa free kick.

In the 63rd minute, Di Maria hit the bar a second time, but the visitors would finally grab their winner thanks to a Ricardo error in the waning moments.

The Académica netminder missed a cross with his punch and Luisão was on hand to back heel home from close range.

Adu then added the cherry on top after playing a one-two with Óscar Cardozo down the right. Ricardo was able to nudge the US international's drive from the edge of the area on to the post, but the ball's spin carried it over the line.

Benfica will now welcome AC Milan to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday to continue their Champions League Group E campaign.

Scoring
ACA - Lito 5 24'
BEN - Rui Costa 3 33'
BEN - Luisão 87'
BEN - Freddy Adu 2 (Óscar Cardozo) 90'

Line-ups
ACA - Ricardo; Nuno Piloto, Litos, Kaká, Pedro Costa, Miloš Pavlović (Hélder Barbosa 89'), Paulo Sérgio, Ousmane N'Doye, Lito, Ivanildo (Miguel Pedro 46'), Arsène Vouho (Joeano 60')

BEN - Quim; Luís Filipe, Luisão, David Luiz, Léo, Kostas Katsouranis (Petit 61'), Gilles Binya, Rui Costa, Nuno Assis (Óscar Cardozo 11'), Nuno Gomes (Freddy Adu 63'), Ángel Di María