Ledman LigaPro comes to a close with a draw in Braga

The Ledman LigaPro season game to a close with a 1-1 draw against Sp. Braga B this weekend, in a match which saw Luís Martins blood several new faces. In the end it was one of the youngsters who decided the result, with Rafael Leão netting on his senior debut in the dying stages.

Varzim's win against Famalicão guarantees Sporting CP B's place in II Liga

With a brilliant turn around triggered by the arrival of Luís Martins in the Sporting CP B hotseat, a much deserved place in next season's Ledman LigPro competition was secured by Varzim's 1-0 against Famalicão this weekend.

Luís Martins shakes of derby draw with praise for his players

Sporting CP B coach Luís Martins praised his side's attitude in the Lisbon reserve derby this Friday, despite the points being split at the final whistle: "We were well prepared. We didn't let the goals get to us and reacted really well. We didn't play our best quality football, but we can't do that 100% of the time of course. However, we got a point and this was only the first match in which we haven't won all three points at home. I am happy with our consistency and to see the players learning and growing. The lads are more confident now and ready to respond."

The Colombian striker Leonardo Ruiz mirrored his coach's comments: "We felt good and did our best. It was a realyl good match and we showed that we are well prepared for anything."

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.

Luís Martins happy with his side's performance, despite missing out to FC Porto B

Luís Martins took a moment to speak with the press after Sunday's loss to FC Porto B, reflecting on what he sees as a final result influenced by some dubious refereeing.

"It was a well-disputed match between two good teams, with a third team that I didn't think were in their best form. We could have done better, considering the chances we had. We didn't do very well in defence and we don't usually let in so many goals, even when we are down to 10 men. The sending off was the key moment for FC Porto B, but I give them credit for the result and applaud my players for keeping their cool when things started going against us", said Martins.

Also speaking at the final whistle was the Sporting CP B striker Leonardo Ruiz, who actually used to play for FC Porto B: "It was a hard game, the kind that every player loves to be involved in. We aren't happy with the result, but we are happy because we did out best. I was very welcome at FC Porto, but of course we are rivals on the pitch now."

Sporting CP B miss out after Dala strikes twice and Barbosa sees straight red

Sporting CP B slipped to a battling defeat in the Dr. Jorge Sampaio Municipal Stadium this weekend against FC Porto B (3-2). Gelson Dala struck twice for the team from Alvalade, on an afternoon which saw Rafael Barbosa sent off.

The match got off to a tough start for Luís Martins' team, when FC Porto B took the lead after one minute when Galeno opened up play for Kayembe to finish. With an early goal the hosts continued in the early stages, before Sporting CP B found their footing after ten minutes on the ropes. Gauld, Gelson Dala and Rafael Barbosa all tried their luck, but the first real opportunity came though Matheus Pereira, denied by Raul Gudiño in the FC Porto B goal. With Sporting CP B in control, Gelson Dala netted the equaliser on 24 minutes, with a superb bit of dribbling around the keeper and a simple finish.

The deadlock didn't last, as FC Porto B struck just three minutes later when Rui Moreira unleashed a brilliant shot past Pedro Silva. Both sides continued to push the pace in a tantalising game to watch and the drama was taken up another notch when Sporting CP levelled four minutes after the half-hour mark with Dala's second of the afternoon.

Both teams came out swinging in the second-half and piled forward, before a straight red card for Rafael Barbosa in the 67th minute gave FC Porto B the edge. The hosts secured the result though André Pereira, after another darting run by Galeno down the flank.

Luis Martins and Co. re-find their winning form with goals from Gelson Dala and Matheus Pereira

Sporting CP B returned to winning form in Ledman LigaPro this Weekend, courtesy of a 3-0 home victory over V. Guimarães B.

After slipping to the first loss of his command (2-1 against Penafiel), Luís Martins rallied his troops for what promised to be a tough encounter. To continue what has been a brilliant turnaround in Sporting CP B's fortunes, Martins brought in first team faces André Geraldes, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Francisco Geraldes, Ryan Gauld and Matheus Pereira.

Luís Martins' fantastic run finally brought to a close by Penafiel

Luís Martins' Sporting CP B tasted defeat for the first time this Wednesday, in a visit to Penafiel that saw three goals in the first-half and two shots against the post.

It was a fantastic series of 10 matches unbeaten for Martins' charges, who actually led after just 7 minutes when Gelson Dala set up Leonardo Ruiz. The hosts responded well and levelled through Djibril Zidnaba 16 minutes later, before Gonçalo Abreu put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot just before the break.

The pace slowed for the first half an hour after the break, before Sporting CP B pushed on in the last 15 minutes. On three occasions Martins' side came close to equalising, two of which were denied by the woodwork.

Luís Martins highlights his side's maturity against União da Madeira

The Sporting CP B coach Luís Martins praised his side's maturity at the final whistle this weekend, after masterminding a ninth successive unbeaten outing.

"We set out with a specific idea that we had been working on and we won. It was our hardest match so far I think. Our opponent had done their homework and you could see that. We have our weaknesses, but we were competent out their today and showed a real maturity", said Martins, continuing with a word on the importance of securing points against the Ledman LigaPro big-hitters: "We had already beaten the team in second and now we beat União da Madeira. These matches are really important to help the lads grow. We were disciplines, coherent and deserve a pat on the back."

Rafael Barbosa was also on hand to share his thoughts at the final whistle, commenting on his goal: "It was an important goal because it helped get the points. We drew in the Azores (Santa Clara), which wasn't a fair result, so it was important for us to get a decent win today."

Yet another win for Luís Martins' charges continues Ledman LigaPro recovery

Another Ledman LigaPro fixture and another win for Luís Martins' team, this time with União da Madeira the victims in a 2-0 win for the hosts. It was a curious afternoon of football, with Sporting CP B happy to give up the midfield and instead hit on the break through Rafael Barbosa and Matheus Pereira.

Both sides started out in a traditional 4x4x2, but União da Madeira did set Cedric to one side in a dedicated role pestering Gauld and Francisco Geraldes in midfield.

On three minutes Pedro Silva was called into action in the Sporting CP B goal, but he comfortably dealt with what ultimately was a weak header. A couple of seconds later Matheus Pereira broke away for the first time, but Rafael Barbosa was unable to make the most of the final execution.

On 25 minutes Rafael Barbosa did hit the back of the net, after Escobar and Ivanildo stamped out a move forward from U. Madeira and picked out André Geraldes for a move forward that was finished off by Barbosa.

From then on União da Madeira showed why they are pushing for one of the Ledman LigaPro top spots with a well drilled dominance of the midfield. However two chances followed for Sporting CP B, first with Ruiz dribbling past the defence and blasting over the bar, before Dala drove a shot at Nilson's body.

Pedro Silva had a much busier second-half, created mostly through Breitner's skillful touches that kept Geraldes and Gauld bogged down in the midfield. Although surrendering the middle of the park, Sporting CP B were deadly on the quick break and Matheus secured the final score after a pass from Dala in a move initially started by Francisco Geraldes.