Sporting Lisbon B defeated Feirense 3-1 at Estádio Marcolino da Castro on Saturday in the fifth round of Liga Portugal 2. The visitors moved clear at the top of the table with 12 points from five games, while the hosts remain rooted to the bottom with just a single point.
Mauro Couto opened the scoring just before half-time with a goal in the 40th minute plus five seconds. Feirense responded through Pedro Henrique five minutes after the restart, but Gabriel Silva restored the visitors' advantage in the 81st minute. Bidu sealed the result with a late strike in the 90th minute plus six seconds.
Sporting B were more clinical with their chances. They registered 13 shots with eight on target, compared to Feirense's 8 attempts and 5 on target. The hosts enjoyed 53 per cent possession but could not convert it into sustained pressure. Sporting B earned 3 corners to Feirense's 7, suggesting the visitors threatened more directly.
Both managers made changes to reshape their sides. Joao Oliveira and Luís Teixeira Pinto came on together for Feirense in the 55th minute. Sporting B brought on Daniel Costa for Ivanildo da Silva Mendes in the 62nd minute, though Mendes had already received a yellow card earlier in the contest.
Feirense have now lost four of five matches this season. Their previous results included defeats to ABC, Porto B and Académica, with only a draw against Felgueiras 1932 and a 2-2 draw with União Lamego to show for their efforts. Sporting B have won four of five, with only a 0-2 loss to Penafiel to mar their record.
The result extends Sporting B's lead at the summit to 11 points over their nearest rivals. Feirense sit 18th in the table and face a difficult run of fixtures if they are to climb away from the relegation zone. The visitors will be satisfied with their efficiency in front of goal.