Sporting Lisbon B claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Chaves at the Estádio Aurélio Pereira in the second matchday of Liga Portugal 2. The result keeps the hosts in second place while doing little to lift the visitors from the bottom of the table. Atanasio's second-half strike proved decisive in a contest where chances were at a premium.
And here's the thing about this result: it came despite Chaves having what looked like a legitimate goal disallowed by VAR. S. Justo's effort was ruled out in the 69th minute, a moment that shifted the momentum back to Sporting B after the visitors had been pushing. Before that, Atanasio had already given the hosts the lead in the 49th minute, finishing from a move that broke through a stubborn home side.
By then, the game had settled into a pattern neither team could quite break. Sporting B dominated possession at 51 per cent and registered five shots on target, though only one found the net. Chaves managed three attempts on goal and took more corners, suggesting they were looking for width rather than penetration. Both sides had three shots off target, indicating a match where finishing was not the priority.
The disciplinary record told a different story. Four yellow cards for the hosts and three for the visitors, with S. Justo and A. Rodrigues both booked before the break. The substitutions came in waves from the 55th minute, with Chaves bringing on R. Esajas, A. Rodrigues and Costinha in quick succession, perhaps sensing the need to change something.
To be fair, this was not a game that needed to be exciting. Sporting B's fourth place in their last five matches shows inconsistency, while Chaves are still searching for their first win after three defeats and a draw. The result extends the visitors' winless run to four games and keeps the hosts within touching distance of the top spot.