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Braga add to sizeable Portuguese contingent in Uefa Cup

Zrinjski Mostar 0-2 Sporting Braga (agg. 0-3)

Sporting Braga beat Zrinjski Mostar 2-0 in Bosnia yesterday to complete a comfortable aggregate win and join Benfica, Guimaraes, Setubal and Maritimo as Portugal’s representatives in today’s Uefa Cup draw.

After withstanding heavy pressure, second-half goals from Cesar Peixoto and Matheus made sure Braga would compete in the Uefa Cup for the 4th season running and maintained Jorge Jesus’ team’s perfect start to the season. The Arsenalistas have won four matches in all competitions, scoring 9 goals and conceding none.

However, the Portuguese team did not have it all their own way. Zrinjski dominated the first half as they searched for the goal that would level the tie. Twice they were close to scoring it.

Eduardo, again called up to the Portugal squad, was forced into a terrific save and then Sunjic missed a glaring chance as the teams went into the break goalless. On 54 minutes only a last-gasp block from Joao Pereira stopped Stojanovic from putting the hosts ahead, but two minutes later the turning point of the match came.

Turning point

The excellent Luis Aguiar split the Zrinjski defence with perfect throughball to Cesar Peixoto, and the former Porto winger produced a powerful cross-shot that gave goalkeeper Melher no chance.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the home team, who now had to score three times in the final half hour to win the tie. Braga took complete control of affairs and rounded off the win with a carbon copy of the first goal, this time scored by Matheus.

The draw for the first round proper of the Uefa Cup takes place in Monaco at noon today.

Zrinjski:
Melher, Anicic, Sunjic, Nikolic, Zurzinov, Serdarusic, Selimovic (Vukovic, 79), Djuric, Zizovic, Stojanovic (Kordic, 74), Matko
Yellow Cards: Zizovic

Braga:
Eduardo, Joao Pereira, Moises, Rodriguez, Evaldo, Stelvio, Alan (Mossoro, 46), Luis Aguiar, Cesar Peixoto (Linz, 75), Meyong (Matheus, 64), Paulo Cesar
Yellow Cards: Luis Aguiar, Paulo Cesar, Stelvio

Goals:
[1-0] Cesar Peixoto, 56
[2-0] Matheus, 90