Fabrice Fokobo's reaction to Sporting B's 4-2 win against Penafiel

Fabrice Fokobo was given his 13th consecutive Sporting B start this weekend, going on to complete 90 minutes in a convincing 4-2 win against Penafiel.

Speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, the midfielder stressed the importance of what has been a solid week for his side: "It was important to win another three points. This is a tough league and it important that we keep turning in wins. We did it again today and I am happy to be able to do my part in that. Wins give you confidence and we managed to build on the three points in Oliveira de Azeméis. We are happy with the result."

Sporting B put four past Penafiel to tighten grip on second in II Liga

Sporting B added to the midweek win against Oliveirense with a superb showing against Penafiel this weekend, on II Liga matchday 15.

Penafiel started the afternoon with two corners, but it was Sporting B who first found the back of the net, with a speedy move down the left in the 5th minute by Sacko. Just a minute later the Frenchman could have scored a second after latching on to a ball floated in behind the visiting defence, but Ângelo Meneses managed to divert away for a corner.

Excessive stoppages in the midfield slowed the pace of the encounter and Penafiel managed to hold down the majority of possession, but without really threatening the Sporting B goal. In contrast, João de Deus' side were looking deadly on the counter-attack and soon made it 2-0, when Mama Baldé was brought down in the penalty area for a spot kick that Labyad converted on.

Podence was next to try his luck, pulling a stop out of Coelho, before Penafiel finally created this first chance with 25 minutes on the clock. Sporting B smartly managed proceedings as the half progressed and the scoreboard could well have been kept ticking over, but Francisco Geraldes' chipped effort was clawed off the line.

Penafiel came out stronger after the break and quickly went about building two opportunities through Yero (51') and Ângelo Meneses (55'), but Pedro Silva was on hand to keep Sporting B in front. João de Deus' side continued to do damage on the counter and a minute before the hour mark Francisco Geraldes rounded off some superb dribbling by Podence to make it three-nil.

João Paulo struck back for the visitors in the 68th minute after some confusion in the area, but Sporting B again pushed forward and some brilliant link up play between Podence and Viola put the score well and truly beyond doubt. Penafiel did have time for a consolation goal five minutes before the final whistle, but the three points always looked destined to stay in Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting B in second place in II Liga with 28 points, with only FC Porto B ahead.

Braga Football Association referee for II Liga matchday 15

Hélder Lamas, 35, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B ao Penafiel, on II Liga matchday 15.

José Caldeira and Nélson Cunha will act as linesmen.

Sporting B-Penafiel will kick off at 15h00 on Sunday the 8th of November at the Sporting Academy and will be broadcast live on Sporting TV.

Labyad and Sacko on target for Sporting B

Sporting B were back in winning form in II Liga this week, beating Oliveirense 2-1 courtesy of goals from Labyad and Sacko.

With Zezinho covering the middle of the park with Fokobo, Francisco Geraldes was free to break forward and after just three minutes the team from Alvalade was already threading goal, with Viola coming close. Oliveirense did battle their way back into the game and took the lead though Stéphane Madeirain the 25th minute, but Sporting B soon bounced back and dominated the rest of the half.

Strikes from Labyad and Sacko after the break secured a well-deserved win, tallying another three points and moving up to 2nd place in II Liga.

Sporting B coach on his side's draw with Varzim

The Sporting B coach João de Deus was evidently unhappy with his side's 0-0 draw with Varzim this Saturday afternoon, in a game with very few opportunities on goal.

“Our opponent was better than us in the first-half. They were on top of the game. We couldn't grasp the fact that we can't always boss the play and that we can't let our opposition gain confidence. The changes we made balanced the game a bit in the second-half, but we still kept making mistakes and we are not happy with how we performed today. We didn't play how we can or how we should. We really have to understand the level we are playing at and that we have to keep mistakes to a minimum", said Deus at the final whistle.

Sporting B held to battling draw by Varzim

Sporting B were forced to split the points with Varzim on II Liga matchday 13, at the Sporting Academy.

It was immediately obvious that the afternoon would be more of a battle for possession than an demonstration of attacking football, with Varzim packing four into the middle and hindering the efforts of the Alvalade forward trio of Rafael Barbosa, Diogo Salomão and Viola.

In fact, Sporting B didn't create a single opportunity on goal in the entire first-half, but Varzim were also looking remarkably unthreatening moving up the pitch. Pedro Silva pulled off a hand full of solid saves in the Sporting B goal, denying João Carneiro the opener. Neither team was really managing to get an effective grip on the encounter, but it was Nuno Capucho's side who looked the better of the two. Bruno Moraes was unable to keep his header on target, before Seejou King raced back to clear off the line after Stanley had picked out Bruno Moraes in front of goal.

The second-half was much of the same, with very few opportunities and Varzim looking slightly more convincing. Bruno Moraes again tried his luck, but the Brazilian was again off target. Sporting B finally started to push forward as the clock ticked on, but Viola's attempts failed to hit the mark and left Ricardo largely untroubled.

On 69 minutes, Bijou picked out Nelsinho, but Sporting B keeper Pedro Silva was on hand to maintain his cleansheet. In response, Francisco Geraldes exchanged passes well with Podence and found an inch of space in the area, but he was unable to find the back of the net in what was Sporting B's best chance of the afternoon. Viola again threatened late on, but the last chance of the game fell to Stanley with a shot that took a kind deflection off Domingos Duarte to almost get the better of Pedro Silva.

The result keeps Sporting B in third place in II Liga, with 22 points.

Rafael Barbosa in II Liga matchday 13 press conference

Sporting B midfielder Rafael Barbosa was with the press ahead of this weekend’s hosting of Varzim, in a match that will see his side looking to build on last week’s win in the Azores against Santa Clara.

“Varzim are a strong side who like to play good football, so our idea is to stop them from playing. They are flying right now after a good win against Desp. Chaves”, said the former Sporting youth team skipper, going on to highlight the differences between youth football and the senior game: “The pace and competitiveness is completely different. II Liga has a lot of unpredictable games. It has been hard, but I am adapting well.”

Sporting B-Varzim will kick off at 15h00 on Saturday, at the Sporting Academy. The match will be broadcast live on Sporting TV.

João Matos for II Liga matchday 13

João Matos, 31, from the Viana do Castelo Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting B’s hosting of Varzim, on II Liga matchday 13.

José Rio and Jorge Brito will act as linesmen.

Sporting B-Varzim will kick off on Satuday at 15h00, at the Sporting Academy. The encounter will be broadcast live on Sporting TV.

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.

Sporting B shotstopper ahead of visit to Santa Clara

Sporting B travel to the Azores this weekend to take on Santa Clara, on II Liga matchday 12. Speaking with radio journalists before the trip to the Portuguese archipelago, goalkeeper Pedro Silva affirmed that his side is more than prepare to claim the three points.

“Unfortunately we are not going thought a good spell of results. We have been playing well, but we just haven’t been scoring. We want to get back to where we were. Santa Clara are a tough side, especially when they are playing at home. It is always hard to play away from home for us and the fans really give us a hard time.”

Santa Clara-Sporting B will get underway at 16h00GMT on Sunday, in Estádio de São Miguel.