15 September 2006, by Sean Gillen

Brilliant Braga stun Chievo

Braga 2-0 Chievo

Sporting Braga gave themselves an excellent chance of progressing to the next round of the UEFA Cup by recording a 2-0 win over Italian side Chievo, who had two men sent off.

An early goal from Paulo Jorge, followed by a late Wender penalty gave the northerners a priceless win, with the Braga defence managing to keep a clean sheet and avoiding conceding the all-important away goal.

Paulo Jorge gave the home side the perfect start on six minutes, scoring when unmarked from a Hugo Leal cross. Braga defended strongly after that, and the Italians failed to cause them any real problems for the remainder of the first period, despite enjoying much of the play.

Braga emerged from the break a more attacking proposition for the Italians, and Joao Pinto went close before Maciel struck the crossbar. Chievo goalkeeper Lorenzo Squizzi then denied Braga a second, with Maciel again registering a stunning effort.

Just as it appeared that both sides were going to have to settle for a narrow scoreline, the visitors went down to ten men, losing Giovanni Marchese for a second yellow card with three minutes remaining.

The Portuguese side took advantage of the extra man, and won a late penalty in injury time when Andrea Mantovani brought down Maciel. The defender was sent off, reducing Chievo to nine men before Wender scored from the spot to give his side a promising lead going into the second leg in Italy.

Braga coach, Carlos Carvalhal was obviously delighted at the result, but warned that the tie was not over yet.

“The first half was difficult for us. Chievo Verona defended further upfield than in the matches in which we had analysed them, and created a lot of difficulties for us. We changed things for the second half and they didn’t create any chances. We created several and ended up scoring the second which was richly deserved,” he said.

“Despite that, Chievo proved they are a very good team, and I have no doubt that they will be stronger in Italy. They’ll have Dana, Lana and Perlissier back, so we can’t say the tie is won.”

“I am fully aware that we will have to suffer a lot to progress. But we won’t go to Italy to defend. We’ve got our way of playing, our pattern, and we’re not going to change it.”

Braga:
Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Nem, Fernandes (Frechaut, 15) Madrid, Hugo Leal, Ricardo Chaves (Maciel 41), Joao Pinto, Wender, Ze Carlos (Marcel 78)
Yellow Cards: Madrid (36), Luis Filipe (89)

Chievo:
Squizzi, Malago, Mandelli, Mantovani, Marchese, Semioli, Sammarco (Brighi 59), Zanchetta, Kosowski, Godeas (Tiribocchi 78), Bruno
Yellow Cards: Zanchetta (7), Sammarco (50), Marchese (74 & 88)
Red Cards: Marchese (88), Mantovani (91)

Goals:
[1-0] Paulo Jorge, 7
[2-0] Wender, 92 (pen)