Sporting B rediscover winning form

Sporting B rediscovered their winning form this Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 victory against fellow Lisbon side Atlético. It was the Alvalade midfield that particularly stood out over the 90 minutes: Ryan Gauld managed to key passes, while Francisco Geraldes and Kikas created another.

Sporting CP needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring, when Podence finished off an excellent pass from Gauld. Atlético then drew level against the run of play courtesy of Cephas Malele, a few minutes after Cristian Ponde could have extended his side's lead from an excellent chance on goal. Half-time arrived with the sides deadlocked, but João de Deus' side finally ran away with the result in the second-half. Domingos Duarte rubber stamped an excellent performance with a goal in the 66th minute after a free-kick from Francisco Geraldes, before Betinho came off the bench and netted his side's third after two just minutes following another deadly pass from Ryan Gauld.

Bruno Jesus named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 34

Bruno Jesus, 33, from the Lisbon Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B's trip to Atlético, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 34.

António Franco and Cláudio Correia will act as linesmen.

This will be Jesus' second time in charge of the team from Alvalade this season, following the trip to Famalicão on matchday 13. 

Atlético-Sporting CP B will get underway at 15h00 on Wednesday the 9th of March, in Estádio da Tapadinha.

Both sides battle for the points but chances on goal were few and far between

Ledman LigaPro matchday 33 between Sporting B and Familicão got off to a well disputed start, with neither side having the opportunity to build a real chance on goal. Sporting enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but a creative spark was missing when moving into the final third. Both defensive lines had obviously done their homework, with some clinical defending denying virtually every move going forward, until Esgaio floated in from the right flank in the 12th minute, but the Sporting B skipper was unable to trouble the Familicão keeper with the following shot. The visitors managed to get a foothold for a period and in the 14th minute Felix Baxinho created their only really notable effort of the half with a move down the right, but Leandro was unable to connect with the resulting cross.

The second-half proved more dynamic and a series of corners followed in the opening minutes, as both teams managed to develop play in their respective opposition halves. Sporting were looking more determined to take a grip of the encounter and Francisco Geraldes managed to pick out Cristian Ponde, but the Sporting number 49's shot was off target. The warning shot had been fired and goals only didn't follow thanks to Emanuel's display in the Familicão goal. After first denying a header from Cristian Ponde following a corner, the visiting keeper made a brilliant save from a stinging shot by Matheus. Down the other end, Stojkovic was only called into action seconds before the final whistle, but Medeiros' chance never really looking threatening.

João de Deus reflects on Saturday's loss to Olhanense

The Sporting B coach took a moment to speak to gather radio journalists at the final whistle of his side's loss to Olhanense this Saturday, in Ledman LigaPro matchday 32.

“It was a good first-half from us. We didn't have any clear chances, but neither did Olhanense. In the second-half both sides had an opportunity and Betinho scored an unlucky own goal. It happens sometimes and today it happened to us. Not a lot happened after that and the weather didn't help at all. A draw would have been fairer", said João de Deus at the final whistle, finishing: "Some players made their debut today. Obviously so many of the lads going through to the senior team takes its toll, but that is how the club works and we will do our bit. We are here to help the players develop so that they get a chance in the senior team."

Betinho own goal setences Sporting B

Sporting CP B lost out 1-0 to Olhanense this Saturday, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 32 with an own goal from Betinho in the second-half sentencing João de Deus' side to defeat.

The first noteworthy incident of the encounter was a chance on goal in the 9th minute. In fact, it was the only chance on goal in the entire half and came from Olhanense's Jorge González, who lost his marker and picked up possession in front of goal, only to be denied by Stojkovic in what was only the Sporting B shotstopper's second match of the season.

With Kikas, Ivanildo Fernandes and Francisco Geraldes all missing out due to suspension, Rafael Barbosa, Rukas and Fábio Martins were all given places in the starting line-up. It was Sporting B who set the pace of the afternoon, with the team from Alvalade enjoying long spells of possession, while Olhanense looked happy to sit back and cede territory. However, the visitors proved well organised and smothered most of Sporting's attempts to get forward.

The second-half was much more open, mainly due to Olhanense looking to push higher up the pitch. The extra space saw chances inevitably follow and on 50 minutes Rafael Barbosa picked out Podence in the area, but the Alvalade forward fired off target. Fifteen minutes later, Podence again had a chance to open the scoring, but this time the ball finished up the wrong side of the cross bar. Olhanense responded with a great chance of their own through Jorge González, but Stojkovic pulled out a fantastic stop to keep the scoreboard blank.

Olhanense began to turn the screw as the clock ticked over and the extra pressure while in possession saw Sporting's dominance start to dip. In the 67th minute Galassi tried to put Olhanense ahead with a chip, before a stroke of bad luck two minutes later saw Betinho deflect the ball into the back of his own net following a corner whipped in by Leandro Borges.

Duarte Oliveira named for II Ledman LigaPro matchday 32

Duarte Oliveira, 34, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B's trip to Olhanense, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 32.

Nuno Fernandes and Licínio Vieira have been named as linesmen.

This will be the second time this season that Duarte Oliveira officiates over a Sporting B match this season, following the visit to Guimarães on mathcday 22 (0-1).

Olhanense-Sporting CP B will get underway at 11h15 on Saturday the 27th of February, in Estádio José Arcanjo, em Olhão.

João de Deus on his side's Ledman LigaPro matchday 31 draw

Speaking in a flash interview at the final whistle of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Freamunde, coach João de Deus praised his team for battling on, despite being a man down for the entire second-half.

“Sporting lost two points today. Eleven against eleven, we were the better side and we played with the most quality. We looked strong down the wings and we had a lot of chances. Kikas was sent off and we lost a man, but after we made some tactical changes I think we played as a team. Freamunde had possession, but they didn't really have any clear chances on goal. We let in a goal from an individual mistake, but we recovered. After we scored I think a different result would have been fairer, with the tactical intelligence that we showed", said the Sporting B coach at the final whistle.

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.

João Bento Named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 31

João Bento, 32, from the Santarém Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting CP B-Freamunde, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 31.

Nuno Henrique Ferreira and Samuel Dionísio will act as linesmen.

This will be João Bento's second Sporting B match of the season, following the matchday 5 draw against Portimonense.

Sporting CP B-Freamunde will kick off at 15h00 on Sunday the 21st of February, at the Sporting Academy.

Sporting B defeated in Matosinhos on matchday 30

Sporting B slipped to a 3-1 away loss to Leixões this Wednesday, on Ledman LigaPro matchday 30.

The hosts essentially had the final result decided in the first 20 minutes, striking twice courtesy of Slim (13’) and Pedras (20’). Sporting rallied and pulled one back before half-time Betinho (41’), but a a third goal for Leixões through Pedras (66’) halted any idea of a comeback.

The result sees Sporting B move down into 12th place with 39 points. João de Deus' side will next be in action against Freamunde on Sunday, at 15h00.