Second-half blitz propels Braga into group stage

Sporting Braga 4-0 Hammarby (agg. 5-2)

After a frustrating goalless first half Braga ultimately made their superiority tell over Swedish club Hammarby in a devastating second period.

Four goals without reply saw the Arsenalistas into the Group Stage for the second successive year after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Braga’s indifferent start to the Bwin Liga season seemed set to carry over into the Uefa Cup as the hosts put in a worryingly disjointed and nervy first-half display.

Few chances were produced by the hosts, mostly from long-range efforts, while Hammarby’s direct game caused several moments of panic in the Braga rearguard.

Different attitude

However, whatever Jorge Costa said at the break had the desired effect as his players came out a transformed team in the second half.

Wender got the ball rolling with a powerful cross-shot into the back of the net on 46 minutes. Midway through the second half Jorginho sent a tremendous header crashing into the net from a pinpoint Hussain cross.

Impressive substitute Hussain then won a penalty that was confidently converted by Linz before the Qatari player rounded off the scoring himself in the dying seconds.

Braga thus continued their tremendous home record in Europe from last season. Their magnificent stadium brought them five consecutive victories without conceding a goal in last season’s exhilarating run before falling 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur.

A similar effort this year will leave Braga’s fans happy. The draw for the Group Stage takes place next Tuesday in Nyon.

Braga:
Dani Mallo, Joao Pereira, Paulo Jorge, Frechaut, Cesar Peixoto, Vandinho, Andres Madrid, Jorginho (Jailson, 75), Jose Manuel (Hussaine, 64), Linz, Wender (Castanheira, 85)
Yellow Cards: Joao Pereira, Wender

Hammarby:
Moussan, Saarenpaa (Gunnarsson, 87), Sleyman, Traore, Johansson, Zengin (Castro Tello, 74), Chanko, Laitinen, Paulinho Guara (Charles Davis, 79), Andersson, Eguren
Yellow Cards: Laitinen, Moussan, Eguren

Goals:
[1-0] Wender, 46
[2-0] Jorginho, 68
[3-0] Linz, 80 (pen)
[4-0] Hussaine, 90