27 August 2006, by Paulo Carvalho

Lively Braga too strong for Belenenses

Belenenses 0-2 Braga

Sporting Braga responded well after their season opening loss to FC Porto last week, by grinding out a 2-0 away win against Belenenses. Goals in either half by Cesar Peixoto (penalty) and Vandinho were enough to give the visitors the three points.

Right from the word go Braga showed that they had come to play as Hussain jumped all over a Joao Pinto free kick in the 3rd minute, forcing Costinha to be sharp with Joao Tomas looming for any scraps.

In the 24th minute Braga were awarded a penalty as Devic took Roland Linz down while the Austrian was attempting to control a Cesar Peixoto cross. Peixoto stepped up to take the penalty and converted it sending Costinha the wrong way.

Belenenses tried shaking things up in the second half, as they did not even produce a half-chance in the opening 45 minutes, by sending on Mendonca and Roncatto, for Fernando and Hugo Leal respectively.

Vandinho strikes

The moves did not prove fruitful as Braga got their second goal of the game in the 57th minute. Goalkeeper Costinha was under fire as Linz and Wender saw their efforts stopped, but the ball fell to Vandinho who coolly slotted the ball into the open net to make it 2-0.

Finally, in the 74th minute, the Blues showed some life, and had a sure goal cleared off the goal-line when Vandinho prevented a Devic header from going in. But that was it from the home team, who put in a listless performance and deserved nothing less than the defeat.

The only negative note for Sporting Braga was that Joao Tomas left the game in the 9th minute, substituted by Roland Linz, as he suffered a muscle injury to his left thigh. It is not known how severe the injury is. The Portuguese international will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Belenenses:
Costinha, Candido Costa, Devic, Rolando, Rodrigo Alvim, Ruben Amorim (Rafael Bastos, 83), Hugo Leal (Roncatto, 46), Ze Pedro, Fernando (Mendonca, 46), Silas, Joao Paulo
Yellow Cards: Devic (23), Roncatto (90)

Sporting Braga:
Dani Mallo, Joao Pereira, Paulo Jorge, Alberto Robriguez, Cesar Peixoto, Madrid, Hussain (Ze Manel, 77), Joao Pinto, Wender (Jailson, 83), Vandinho, Joao Tomas (Roland Linz, 9)
Yellow Cards: Paulo Jorge (45), Cesar Peixoto (61), Joao Pinto (87)

Goals:
[0-1] Cesar Peixoto, 24 (pen)
[0-2] Vandinho, 57