Ponde strike secures three points a week ahead of encounter with FC Porto B

Sporting B fought to a battling 1-0 win over Desp. Aves this Wednesday afternoon, II Liga matchday 20.

Just as coach João de Deus had predicted in his pre-match press conference, the match was indeed decided in the detail, particularly by fatigue setting in after the break.

The encounter's opening opportunity belonged to Alexandre Guedes in the 12th minute, triggering a spell of play that saw Sporting B begin to unlock what was always going to be a stubborn Desp. Aves defence. On 25 minutes, Cristian Ponde opened the scoring after making the most of a failed shot by Labyad following some brilliant play by Ryan Gauld down the left. Six minutes before the break Pedró hammered a shot off Pedro Silva's bar, before two completely uncalled for heavy tackles on Podence and Mama Baldé left a blemish on the game, particularly after the horrific injuries picked up earlier in the season by Riquicho and King from similar circumstances.

Desp. Aves looked better in the second-half and came close to an equaliser on several occasions, particularly from deadball situations. However, Sporting B weathered the storm and again took a grip of proceedings going in to the last fifteen minutes. Sacko and Labyad both came close, before Quim tried an effort from range. Desp. Aves did actually have the ball in the back of the net at the death, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside and Sporting B came away with the narrow win at the final whistle.