Sporting B put four past Penafiel to tighten grip on second in II Liga

Sporting B added to the midweek win against Oliveirense with a superb showing against Penafiel this weekend, on II Liga matchday 15.

Penafiel started the afternoon with two corners, but it was Sporting B who first found the back of the net, with a speedy move down the left in the 5th minute by Sacko. Just a minute later the Frenchman could have scored a second after latching on to a ball floated in behind the visiting defence, but Ângelo Meneses managed to divert away for a corner.

Excessive stoppages in the midfield slowed the pace of the encounter and Penafiel managed to hold down the majority of possession, but without really threatening the Sporting B goal. In contrast, João de Deus' side were looking deadly on the counter-attack and soon made it 2-0, when Mama Baldé was brought down in the penalty area for a spot kick that Labyad converted on.

Podence was next to try his luck, pulling a stop out of Coelho, before Penafiel finally created this first chance with 25 minutes on the clock. Sporting B smartly managed proceedings as the half progressed and the scoreboard could well have been kept ticking over, but Francisco Geraldes' chipped effort was clawed off the line.

Penafiel came out stronger after the break and quickly went about building two opportunities through Yero (51') and Ângelo Meneses (55'), but Pedro Silva was on hand to keep Sporting B in front. João de Deus' side continued to do damage on the counter and a minute before the hour mark Francisco Geraldes rounded off some superb dribbling by Podence to make it three-nil.

João Paulo struck back for the visitors in the 68th minute after some confusion in the area, but Sporting B again pushed forward and some brilliant link up play between Podence and Viola put the score well and truly beyond doubt. Penafiel did have time for a consolation goal five minutes before the final whistle, but the three points always looked destined to stay in Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting B in second place in II Liga with 28 points, with only FC Porto B ahead.