Sporting with uphill task to qualify for League Cup semis

Sporting slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portimonense this Tuesday night, in League Cup Group C. Ewerton was the hero on the night for the hosts, scoring both sides of half-time in a game that also saw Marvin make his debut.

Portimonense made an aggressive start to the encounter and were soon threatening goal, with Lumor's 2nd minute shot deflected just wide of the post. Sporting responded second later, with Montero picking out Aquilani, but the Italian's chipped effort floated just over Carlos Henriques' goal.

With the Colombian double team of Montero and Teo particularly active up front, chances started to flow and on 19 minutes Carlos Mané found Teo in the area, but the Portimonense keeper managed to pull off a stop and deny Sporting the opener. Next it was Carlos Mané himself who broke through on goal, but the youngster hesitated a second too long and gave the hosts' defence the chance to scramble away. The team from Alvalade looked in control, but some loose passing in the midfield saw Portimonense snatch possession against the run of play and open the scoring courtesy of Ewerton in the 36th minute. There was still time for Sporting to try for an equaliser before the break, but Bruno César's powerful effort finished up the wrong side of the bar.

The second-half saw Jorge Jesus introduce Matheus Pereira in place of Carlos Mané and the Brazilian immediately caused chaos in the final third, picking out Teo who almost managed to make the most of confusion between Carlos Henriques and Possignolo. Aquiliani came close on two occasions as the clock ticked over and Montero actually had the ball in the back of the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside after what was apparently a deflection from Aquilani.

Despite Sporting's dominance in the final third, Portimonense picked up possession and broke forward, but Marcelo Boeck was able to make a stop from Fabrício. In response, Schelotto made another run down the left and whipped a cross into the box, but Matheus Pereira's finish was off target. On 80 minutes another cross from Schelotto was cut out by Lumor with a handball in the area, but William Carvalho was unable to convert on the spot kick. Portimonense however had better luck from 12 yards, scoring their second after Marcelo Boeck brought down Fabrício in the area.

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference on League Cup visit to Portimonense

Speaking in an exclusive press conference with Sporting TV, Jorge Jesus set out his plans for tomorrow's League Cup Group C visit to Portimonense. For the Alvalade boss, Portimonense's matchday 1 upset of Arouca (4-1) is a sure sign of the dangers posed by Tuesday's hosts.

“The game is important for this competition. Portimonense won their first match and if we are the same on points then goals will matter. Portimonense will try and make this game decisive in qualification for the next round. Our objective is to win tomorrow and everything will be in our control if we do. It will be a hard game and we will have to show the maturity to deal with some of the harder moments in the game. We will be facing a team from II Liga, who are fighting for promotion", affirmed Jorge Jesus, continuing: “All clubs who are taking part in this competition what to get as far possible. League Cup finals are important financially and they are games played with a lot of quality and passion. It is a competition that is not only important in terms of competition in the squad, but also because it brings games to regions in Portugal that don't have that many. They love football in the Algarve and it will be a great match. Our Supporters' Clubs in the Algarve will have a chance to meet the team too."

Confronted with a question on his usual tactic of squad rotation in the League Cup, the Sporting coach highlighted the progress being made across the squad to due the extra playing time: “The match against Tondela has nothing to do with tomorrow. We will go to Portimão with the players who are best fitted to get the win. A lot of those who played against Tondela will go to, with the exception of Adrien and Gelson Martins, who picked up a few knocks. Marvin will make his debut. He has adapted well. You can see he is still getting to know the squad, which is normal, but we have to give him the chance to show what he can do. Almost the entire squad plays in the team now, okay some more than others, but we don't have a fixed pattern. We have a very flexible team and by choices are always related to the quality I have in the squad."

Marvin's favoured position and Teo's fitness were also touched upon by the Alvalade chief: "Marvin was picked as a left-back. We let Jonathan go, because we really believe in him. He is only 21 years old and he needed to play, so we looked for a solution in Portugal. Marvin is here for that same position and that is what we have been working on. Clinically Teo is looking positive. We have a really good medical department and the doctors will try and get the players ready for us. He will probably be in the squad tomorrow."

To finish, Jesus spoke about the current situation at the heart of the Alvalade defence: "With Tobias being out we only have three centre-backs. We are in a risky position and we can't pick up any injuries or suspensions. We are trying to get Rúben Semedo back, but I don't know if it will be possible in contractual terms. If not, we will have to use the January market or the B team."

Sporting B coach with the press after Portimonense draw

“Portimonense were better than us in the first-half”, conceded João de Deus in a post-match press conference this Sunday, after his side’s 1-1 draw in II Liga matchday five.

“We were apathetic at the start and we we let them play. The second-half was different. We changed what we had to and scoring early helped. We could have won, if it wasn’t for the sending off. It is this kind of match that helps the lads to grow. We wanted to win, but the sending off changed everything and we had to hold out”, said the Sporting B coach, adding: “Portimonense are a strong side who can move the ball around well. We played in midweek as well and they didn’t, which made a difference in the first-half, but we fought back.”

Deus' side held to draw on II Liga matchday five

Sporting B were held to a 1-1 draw at the Sporting Academy by the visiting Portimonense this Sunday afternoon, on II Liga matchday five.

The opening stages were end to end stuff, before Matheus had the first real chance of the afternoon, but his fourth minute shot was saved by Ricardo Ferreira. The opportunity proved to be the warning shot for what was long spells of dominating possession for the team from Alvalade, with Portimonense very rarely getting forward. However, the visitors were having a better time of it in defence, smothering most of Sporting B’s efforts to pull ahead while still in the build-up.

Despite Sporting B’s dominance, it was actually the side from the Algarve who took the led courtesy of a free-kick driven in by Mamadu in the 25th minute. It didn’t take João de Deus long to react and on 36 minutes the Sporting B coach made his first change, bringing off Dramé for Francisco Geraldes and pushing Matheus out to the left. The alteration did just the trick and Sporting B again took a grip of proceedings, but a goal was proving hard to come by and Portimonense took a 1-0 lead in at half-time.

With the wind in the favour, Sporting B come out stronger after the break and soon levelled, with Matheus Pereira finishing off a move instigated by Rubio and Geraldes. On 54 minutes Bruno Paulista could have had his first goal in Sporting shirt, but the newly arrived signing’s free-kick was parried over for a corner.

Sporting B were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute, when Bruno Paulista was shown a second yellow card that really didn’t do justice to the Brazilian’s solid performance. To rebalance his side, João de Deus brought off Diego Rubio for Ryan Gauld, as time played out to split the points at the final whistle.

Sporting B-Portimonense, 1-1
CDG Sporting Academy (Alcochete)
Referee: João Bento (Santarém)
Assistant referees: Nuno Henrique Ferreira and Samuel Dionísio

Sporting B: Pedro Silva; Mauro Riquicho (captain), Sambinha, Domingos Duarte, Seejou King; Fokobo, Bruno Paulista, Matheus Pereira; Podence, Dramé and Diego Rubio
Coach: João de Deus
Substitutions: Dramé for Francisco Geraldes (36’); Podence for Sacko (65’); Diego Rubio for Ryan Gauld (72’)
Goal: Matheus Pereira (47’)
Cards: Yellow, Bruno Paulista (25’ and 72’). Red, Bruno Paulista (72’)

Portimonense: Ricardo Ferreira; Ricardo Pessoa (captain), Ivo Nicolau, Jadson, Mamadu; Fidelis Irhene, Dener, Ewerton, André Carvalhas; Fabrício and Pires
Coach: José Augusto
Substitutions: Dener for Buba (57’); André Carvalhas for Ryuki (73); Fidelis Irhene for Fidelis (81’)
Goal: Mamadu (25’)
Cards: Yellow, André Carvalhas (20’), Fidelis Irhene (53’), Pires (59’), Jadson (60’) and Ivo Nicolau (70’)

João Bento named for II Liga matchday five

João Bento, 31, from the Santarém Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B’s hosting of Portimonense, on II Liga matchday five.

Nuno Henrique Ferreira and Samuel Dionísio will act as linesmen.

Sporting B-Portimonense will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 30th of August at the Sporting Academy and will be broadcast live and exclusive by Sporting TV.