3 November 2006, by Tom Kundert

Brilliant Braga crush Liberec

Braga 4-0 Slovan Liberec

Braga turned around their recent poor form and results in spectacular fashion as they hammered the leaders of the Czech league Slovan Liberec 4-0 to move up to second in UEFA Cup Group C.

Two goals in each half from Ricardo Chaves, Marcel, Cesinha and Bruno Gama leave Braga well placed to qualify for the next stage of the competition and completed a marvellous week for Portuguese clubs in Europe.

"This was our best performance of the season" - Bruno Gama

After suffering a 3-0 defeat in their first match against AZ Alkmaar in Holland, Braga knew a victory was essential to maintain realistic hopes of staying in Europe until after Christmas.

Despite a long injury list Carlos Carvalhal sent out a strong side which settled quickly and immediately took control of the match. Marcel twice and Cesinha had both gone close when in the 26th minute Maciel hit a tremendous snapshot that beat goalkeeper Cech but bounced back off the woodwork.

Three minutes later and Braga took a richly deserved lead when Maciel pounced on a mistake by a defender, ran into the box and played a superb pass into the path of Ricardo Chaves who beat the keeper with ease to put the sizeable crowd in good voice.

Marcel pounces

Three minutes later and the lead was doubled when Cesinha sent over an inviting cross that a sliding Marcel knocked into the net. The striker on loan from Benfica was harshly booked for his exuberant celebrations, and at the break Carvalhal decided not to take any risks and replaced the Brazilian with compatriot Matheus.

The young winger did not take long to make his mark as an excellent run and neat footwork proved too hot to handle for the Liberec rearguard as he was sent crashing to the floor for a clear penalty. Cesinha stepped up and confidently hit the spot kick into the back of the net.

Papousek almost pulled a goal back for the Czechs with a fine long-range strike that thudded against the bar.

Braga were content to play on the counter-attack for the rest of the match and a highly satisfactory night was completed when the two late substitutes combined to score the home team’s fourth of the night. Joao Pinto hit a venomous shot from 30 metres out that Cech did well to tip onto the bar, but Bruno Gama following up gleefully hit the ball into the net.

Braga next face a far more demanding test as they travel to current UEFA Cup holders, Sevilla, on 23 November.

Braga:
Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Nem, Irineu, Pedro Costa, Andres Madrid, Vandinho, Ricardo Chaves (Bruno Gama, 86), Maciel, Marcel (Matheus, 46), Cesinha (Joao Pinto, 76)
Yellow Cards: Marcel (34), Vandinho (84)

Slovan Liberec:
Marek Cech, Peter Singlar, Tomas Zapotocny, Pavel Kastal, Daniel Pudil, Juri Bilek, Ivan Hodur (Juraj Ancic, 63), Petr Papousek, Tomas Frejlach (Radek Hachmeister, 84), Jan Holenda, Zbyner Pospech (Winston Parks, 46)

Goals:
[1-0] Ricardo Chaves, 29
[2-0] Marcel, 32
[3-0] Cesinha, 53 (pen)
[4-0] Bruno Gama, 89