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Setubal beat freefalling Braga

Sporting Braga 2-3 Vitoria Setubal

Sporting Braga continue to fall downwards in the tables as they lost 3-2 at home against Vitoria Setubal.

It was a sew-saw battle, but Carlos Carvalhal got the better of his former club as Robson, Ricardo Chaves and Elias all scored for the Sadinos, while Roland Linz and Jailson made it respectable for the Arsenalistas.

Combined with the beating that Braga took last week in the Uefa Cup at the hands of Werder Bremen, things are not looking good for the northerners as they now have not won a match since December 14 when they beat Pacos de Ferreira. The team currently sit in 8th place in the standings, albeit only one point outside of a European spot.

A bright start to the match saw both teams on the attack, but it would be the guests who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Robson nudged a Paulo Santos rebound into the back of the net. Braga responded well to the goal with some fierce attacking of the own, but their finishing was left to be desired.

Their hard work paid off as the team’s top goalscorer, Roland Linz, equalized in the 25th minute with his 15th goal in all competitions in a carbon copy of the Robson goal.

The game became even more interesting from this point with a great ebb and flow of attacking football. It was the visitors who grabbed the lead again in the 40th minute as Ricardo Chaves headed a Pitbull free kick into the back of Braga’s net to end the first half action.

Braga had a great opportunity from a dead ball situation right after the re-start but Linz’s header went disappointing wide. The Austrian then had a trio of opportunities, but all ended up with the same result. The home side were to pay dearly for their poor finishing as Elias put Setubal two up in the 76th minute.

Braga got a late consolation goal in added time when Jailson converted a Wender corner kick, but the goal arrived much too late as the Braga faithful booed their team off the field.

Dark days are looming for Manuel Machado as the team now prepares for the return leg of their Uefa Cup tilt against Werder Bremen. As for Setubal, the team climbs back up the tables and now occupy 5th place with 28 points.

Sporting Braga:
Paulo Santos, Joao Pereira, Contreras, Rodriguez, Carlos Fernandes, Frechaut (Roberto Brum, 46), Vandinho, Matheus (Joao Tomas, 56), Jorginho (Jailson, 30), Wender, Roland Linz
Yellow Cards: Contreras (18), Wender (85)

Vitoria Setubal:
Eduardo, Janicio, Robson, Auri, Jorginho, Sandro, Elias, Ricardo Chaves (Filipe, 74), Leandro (Severino, 58), Claudio Pitbull, Bruno Gama (Paulinho, 70)
Yellow Cards: Leandro (25), Jorginho (27), Sandro (49), Claudio Pitbull (75)

Goals:
[0-1] Robson, 11
[1-1] Roland Linz, 25
[1-2] Ricardo Chaves, 40
[1-3] Elias,78
[2-3] Jailson, 91