Sporting CP B coach reflects on Sunday's draw in the Azores

"It was a very competitive match. Santa Clara are really strong and coming in after two loses gave them a bit of extra motivation", said the Sporting CP B coach Luís Martins at the final whistle on Sunday, after his side claimed a 1-1 draw in the Azores.

Reflecting on the performance, Martins added: "We let a goal in really early, but Sporting CP B likes to take control and that is what we did. We moved the ball around well, although we didn't create a lot of opportunities in the first-half.  We improved after the break, which curiously was when we were playing against the wind. We created three or four chances before Ivanildo scored [83'] and Leonardo Ruiz could have won it for us at the end."

Luís Martins side continue undefeated in Ledman LigaPro

Luís Martins took the reins of Sporting CP B on the 19th of February and since then his side hasn't lost a single encounter. Ledman LigaPro matchday 35 was the same again, this time with Sporting CP B claiming a 1-1 draw in the Azores against Santa Clara.

The team from Alvalade actually fell behind in the 6th minute, when Dennis Pineda opened the scoring. Curiously Sporting CP B's equaliser came six minutes from the final whistle, courtesy Ivanildo Fernandes.

Luís Martins expecting a tough trip to the Azores but sees the encounter with Santa Clara as an opportunity to mature

Sporting CP B are the mirror image of the Alvalade senior team's brilliant form as of late, but a tricky trip to the Azores to face Santa Clara is next up in Ledman LigaPro. For coach Luís Martins, this is exactly the kind of opportunity that his players look for add vital experience.

"The game will start at 0-0 like every other one does and what happens from there is down to us. It will be a hard match, but these are the ones that we like playing. These occasions help the lads to grow and that is what is most important", said the Sporting CP B coach in a pre-match interview this Saturday, adding: "It is a real honour to be with this group of players and coaches. It is fantastic to see the fans getting behind the club so much an the help that everyone gives helps us through those tougher spells."

João de Deus happy after his side's win against Santa Clara

Every win brings a smile to a coach's face, but especially when it is against a side of the strength of Santa Clara. 

Ronaldo 2.0 comes off the bench to net twice

Ledman LigaPro was far from a regular encounter, with the first-half lasting for 66 minutes. Why? Because it was in the 67th minute that Ronaldo Tavares was introduced off the bench and absolutely set fire to the afternoon.

The hosting of Santa Clara was one of the most competitive matches played so far this season at the Sporting Academy. The visitors from the Azores arrived on the continent in third place in the league standings, while João de Deus were in resurgent form despite conceding a draw last week.

Only Clemente and Matheus Pereira looked really threatening before the introduction of Tavares and it was Clemente who opening the scoring with an unstoppable header past Pedro Silva. Pereira responded with an exquisite free-kick, before Pedro Silva got his revenge against Clemente with a penalty stop in the 50th minute.

Then came a tornado in the form of Ronaldo Tavares, who needed just 12 minutes to put Sporting B into the lead after linking up well with Pereira. Berny Burke when then shown a direct red card for a violent tackle, before Ronaldo Tavares headed in his side's third after a wire guided cross from Pedro Empis.

Guilherme Oliveira comes off the bench to make penalty stop

Guilherme Oliveira come off the bench to save a penalty in Sporting B's win this Sunday afternoon, after Vladimir Stojkovic was shown a red card.

“It was more of an instinctive save. We study our opposition before the game and we know more or less how each player will take a penalty. I knew which way he would put it and I just threw everything that way. I managed to make a save, but the key thing was how we worked together when we were a man down", said the young goalkeeper at the final whistle, adding: "Santa Clara where pressing us a lot. We tried to do everything we could to hold out and what matters is that we won three points."

Francisco Barão stands in for João de Deus

Francisco Barão stepped in for João de Deus in a post-match press conference this Sunday, with the Sporting B coach currently suspended after seeing a red card earlier in the week.

“We could have secured the result a lot earlier. After going 2-0 up we had two or three more chances and we could have been ahead by three at half-time. Santa Clara's goal and the sending off obviously conditioned the game a lot. We really have to give the lads credit for reacting well after the red card. They are young, but the way they responded is a good sign for the future", opened the Sporting B assistant coach, going on to add a word on the appearances of first team regulars Paulo Oliveira, Tobias Figueiredo, Matheus Pereira and André Martins: "The B team is also a chance to give the lads a run out and we can take advantage of their experience. When we needed to close ranks we had the first team players with us."

Sporting B continue Ledman LigaPro revival

Sporting B continued their recent revival of form with a 2-1 win over Santa Clara this weekend, courtesy of strikes from Cristian Ponde (5') and Daniel Podence (29').

It really was a game of two halves at the Sporting Academy. João de Deus' side, although the Sporting B coach watched from the stands after being sent off midweek, made a dominating start, moving possession around well and thoroughly deserving an early goal. Mama Baldé put in another sterling performance at left-back, this time building Cristian Ponde's 5th minute goal with a pass into the middle of the 18-yard box. Secured by the early strike, Santa Clara fought back into the encounter and on 13 minutes the visitors came close to leveling through Hamdou, but Stojkovic pulled off a stop on his line to keep Sporting B ahead.

The team from Alvalade were soon back in control and a minute before the half-hour mark Podence doubled his side's lead after Mama Baldé battled back possession an released Matheus Pereira for the eventual pass that was converted by Daniel Podence. Six minutes before the break, Rúben Ribeiro could have made it three, but his header was finally cleared away after defecting off the crossbar.

The visitors from the Azores looked more determined to make a game of it in the second-half and after just a minute of play they were threatening goal, after Stojkovic failed to smother that ended up at the feet of Clemente. The Sporting B keeper tried to deny the resulting opportunity, but was only able to bring down the Santa Clara front man for a penalty and a red card. Guilherme Oliveira was called on off the bench and the young goalkeeper repaid the confidence with a save from 12 yards. Not to be dissuaded, Santa Clara continued to press, but Sporting B stood firm despite being a man down and managed to hold off the visitors' late rally.

Pedro Campos names for Ledman LigaPro matchday 35

Pedro Campos, 32, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B's hosting of Santa Clara.

Renato Barqueira and Bruno Ferreira will act as linesmen.

This will be Campos' third time officiating over Sporting B, after matchday 14 against Oliveirense and matchday 25 against Mafra.

Sporting B-Santa Clara will get underway at 11h on Sunday the 13 of March, at the Sporting Academy.

Sporting B turn in 3-2 win in the Azores

Sporting B returned to winning form this weekend with a 3-2 victory in the Azores against Santa Clara, on II Liga matchday 12.

João de Deus’ side took the lead after just four minutes, when João Botelho pulled off a good stop from a shot from Viola, only for Rafael Barbosa to slot from the rebound. On 22 minutes, the Argentinean was again the protagonist up front, this time finding the back of the net with a brilliant chip after some good collective play.

Clemente hit the woodwork for the hosts, but it was Sporting B who looked the most deadly going forward and on 40 minutes Labyad made it three.

It looked as if the game was all but over, but two quick strikes from Reginaldo and Batatinha made it 3-2 going in at the break.

Neither side really pushed the pace in the second-half and Sporting B smartly went about soaking up pressure from the hosts for the rest of the encounter.

The result leaves Sporting B in third place in II Liga with 21 points: two behind Portimonense and give behind FC Porto B.