Lisbon reserve derby ends in a draw

Sporting CP B were held to a draw by SL Benfica B this Friday, after the team from Alvalade led twice.

The encounter got off to a well-disputed opening, with two similar set ups largely cancelling each other out. The first clear chance of the afternoon was made to wait until the 9th minute, when Leonardo Ruiz headed just wide of the post from inside the six-yard box. Gelson Dala did the same following a move down the right wing, before the Benfica defence just about managed to scramble away a lethal looking cross from Pedro Delgado in the 17th minute.

Three minutes alter Ruix and Delgado linked up to pick out Gelson Dala and the Angolan forward wasted little time in doing what he does best with his 12th goal in 16 Ledman LigaPro outings.

Some superb movement from Ruiz and Dala at the attacking end of the pitch kept Benfica chasing shadows and on 31 minutes Ruiz came close to making it 2-0 after some good play between Delgado and Bubacar Djaló.

Bilel found a yard of space and scuffed his attempt across goal, before João Félix responded down the other end with a chip that Silva did well to divert away. Sporting CP B looked to have secured the lead at the break, however a late strike from José Gomes levelled just before the referee called the players into the dressing room for half-time.

Sporting CP again took control at the restart, against a Benfica side that looked happy to make the most of the odd counter-attack. Escobar fired a free-kick over the bar, after Dala could have done better to score his second after an attack triggered by André Geraldes down the flank. Benfica threatened twice through Heriberto, but it was Sporting CP B who struck, with Escobar scooped up some sloppy possession to set up Leonardo Ruiz.

Benfica responded with an injection of pace and Empis did well to deny the visitors from an equaliser in the 74th minute. However, sixty seconds later José Gomes found the back of the net to restore the deadlock.

With two matches to play in Ledman LigaPro, Sporting CP B currently sits in 13th overall with 54 points.