16 February 2007, by Tom Kundert

Ze Carlos strikes as Braga beat Parma

Braga 1-0 Parma

Just like Benfica the previous night, Braga scored a late goal to win the first-leg of their round of 32 UEFA Cup match, running out one-nil victors against Parma.

Brazilian striker Ze Carlos hit his seventh goal in seven matches to give the Arsenalistas what could be a priceless lead to take with them to Italy next week.

The result also maintains Braga’s impressive home record in Europe this season with four straight wins, nine goals scored and none conceded.

Ze Carlos: “Tonight we showed we are a big club”

Braga’s rise in recent years has seen the club firmly establish itself as Portugal’s fourth best team, and club president Antonio Salvador has made it a clear aim to establish the Arsenalistas as a force in Europe. However, his criticism of lack support from the city’s population seems to a fallen on deaf ears as only 6,000 fans turned up to watch the club’s most important European game in their history.

The hosts were without the influential midfield trio of Andres Madrid, Andrade and Maciel, and struggled to make any headway against a typically tight Italian defence in the first half, whereas Parma twice came close to grabbing a crucial away goal.

Santos shines

On 6 minutes Kutusov latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired a shot that seemed destined to hit the net until it struck team-mate Pisanu, with Braga goalkeeper Paulo Santos beaten. In the 34th minute Cigarrini beat the offside trap to find himself one on one with Santos, but the Portuguese international keeper pulled off an excellent save.

The second half was a different story as Braga came out with a changed attitude, and their quick passing and greater aggression visibly unsettled Parma. Within three minutes of the restart Ze Carlos fired just wide and Cesinha forced Italian keeper Bucci into a sharp save.

Gama was next to come close with a powerful shot from distance that Bucci struggled to stop and Cesinha missed another good chance when played in by Joao Pinto.

In the 78th minute Braga had an incredible let-off when a corner kick fell at the feet of Muslimovic who somehow made a mess of his finish two metres from goal.

The Italians were soon made to rue the miss as Cesinha blocked an attempted clearance on the edge of the Parma box and Ze Carlos latched on to the looping ball, cleverly chesting the ball past his marker before firing low into the net.

Despite late pressure from the visitors Braga held on to give themselves a good chance of progressing to a last-16 tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

Sporting Braga:
Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Nem (Rodriguez, 46), Carlos Fernandes, Ricardo Chaves, Frechaut (Bruno Gama, 38), Vandinho, Joao Pinto (Wender, 77), Ze Carlos, Cesinha
Yellow Cards: Paulo Santos (34), Wender (82)

Parma:
Bucci, Coly, Perna, Paci, Contini, Bocchetti, Pisanu (Paponi, 64), Cigarrini (Bolano, 79), Dessena, Gasbarroni, Kutuzov (Muslimovic, 60)
Yellow Cards: Contini (44), Paponi (67)

Goals:
[1-0] Ze Carlos, 81