Sporting B claim a draw after playing the full second-half with ten men

Sporting B were held to a 1-1 draw by Freamunde this Sunday, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 31.

João de Deus' side made made a solid start to the afternoon, creating a chance on goal in the very first minute after Filipe Chaby battled back possession in midfield. The Sporting B number 43 then pushed out wide to the left and whipped a cross in for Geraldes, who came up just inches short of opening the scoring. Long spells of possession for the hosts starved Freamunde of any real chance to gain momentum going forward, but Francisco Geraldes, Ryan Gauld and Kikas, not being the biggest midfielders in the league, were having a tough time holding on to the ball in the centre of the park. On 11 minutes, Francisco Geraldes charged down the right flank and skillfully flicked the ball over his marker, but the midfielder was only able to drive his subsequent shot at the visiting keeper.

Daniel Podence and Francisco Geraldes were looking particularly dangerous out on the wings and spearheaded most of the Sporting B attacking efforts, while the afternoon's visitors looked happy to sit back and go forward through the occasional break. The next major opportunity came on 21 minutes, but Betinho, inside the 12-yard box, was unable to finish on Daniel Podence's pass after Geraldes had again carved up ground down the right. João de Deus' side were then dealt what has become a regular setback this season, when Kikas was shown a second yellow card just before the break. The resulting red card obliged the Sporting B boss to make sacrifices in attack, bringing on Zezinho to bolster the midfield. With an extra man, Freamunde took advantage of the extra space and began to move the ball around with a little more freedom.

The first few minutes of the second-half were a struggle for Sporting B and after 60 seconds Ivan Perez was allowed a chance on goal that ended up in the side netting. Freamunde began to turn up the intensity and actually took the lead after a decisive counter-attack. Celeste put a cross in from the right and Ivan Perez popped up in the area with a shot that was initially stopped by Stojkovic as the Alvalade defence appealed for offside, but the referee waved play on and Diogo Ramos had the enviable task of tapping in the subsequent rebound.

Despite being a man, as well as a goal, down, Sporting B rallied and took the fight to Freamunde. The introduction of Mama Baldé for Chaby gave a drop of extra speed to Sporting B and play was soon being held down in the visitors' half. Freamunde really dropped the pace in the last twenty minutes despite being a man up and Sporting B responded by forcing through the middle. Daniel Podence was brought down for a free-kick and Francisco Geraldes, without so much as a run-up, curved the ball into the top corner. There was still time for the referee to award a penalty to Freamunde, but Pedrinho blazed the spot-kick a good few yards high over the bar.

The result keeps Sporting B in 12th in Ledman LigaPro.