Gil Vicente beat Braga tonight to book their place in the final of the Taça da Liga. The hosts took an early lead through Hugo Vieira, but goals from Lima and Barbosa put the Arsenalistas ahead by half time. With just two minutes remaining, a crass mistake from Braga goalkeeper Quim allowed Junior Caicara to equalise and set up a penalty shoot-out, where Gil prevailed, thanks to two saves from Brazilian goalkeeper Adriano.

Braga came into the match on a phenomenal run of form, having won 15 of their last 16 games. But Gil Vicente had received a big boost on Monday with an excellent 2-0 victory over Sporting, and it was the hosts who opened stronger; an impressive start that soon brought its reward. 

The ever lively Hugo Vieira was too quick for Braga’s centre-backs in the 13th minute, stealing the ball, advancing and dinking a fine finish over Quim. Hugo Viana then brought a save out of Gil goalkeeper Adriano from a free kick.

As the whirlwind start continued the visitors enjoyed a stroke of luck. Braga right-back Miguel Lopes hauled down Vieira as the speedy striker burst clean through, but the referee interpreted the incident as simulation, giving Vieira a yellow card. TV replays suggested a card for Lopes, possibly a red one, would have been a more correct decision.

Quick-fire double

On 25 minutes Braga were level. Excellent approach play by Mossoro led to a low cross, with Lima quick as flash beating his marker to score for the seventh successive match. Five minutes later the Arsenalistas were in front. Lima’s shot ricocheted to Helder Barbosa, who made no mistake.

Junior Caicara was close to scoring the equaliser for Gil as his well struck free-kick on the edge of the box whistled just wide. Play immediately switched to the other end and an inviting Viana cross was headed narrowly wide by Paulo Cesar to bring the curtain down on an exciting half.

Gil Vicente coach Paulo Alves brought on striker Ze Luis - on loan from Braga - at the interval and the big Cape Verdean immediately made his presence felt, heading just over. Back came Braga, with Lima volleying wide.

The game then went into something of a lull, with the visitors attempting to take the sting out the game and Gil struggling to create chances. Lima was uncharacteristically wasteful on 73 minutes when with just Adriano between him and net, the striker allowed the goalkeeper to save twice.

Late equaliser

To their credit Gil continued to push forward, but as the clock wound down and the chances did not come it appeared the Barcelos club’s run in the Taça da Liga, which included knocking out Sporting, was coming to an end.

However, with two minutes remaining Junior Caicara fired a hopeful shot towards goal from 25 yards. The strike was far from venomous, but veteran goalkeeper Quim made an awful mistake as the bobbling ball squirmed under his body and into the net.

There was still time for Lima to miss a golden opportunity to score the winner in stoppage time. It was Quim’s opposite number, Adriano, who proved the hero in the penalty shoot-out, saving from Barbosa and Ukra to send the home crowd into raptures of joy. 

Gil Vicente and Benfica will contest the Taça da Liga final in Coimbra on 14 April.

Gil Vicente:
Adriano, Rodrigo Galo, Halisson, Claudio, Caicara, Luis Manuel, Andre Cunha (Vilela, 58), Richard, Cesar Peixoto (Sciola, 76), Luis Carlos (Ze Luis, HT), Hugo Vieira

Braga:
Quim, Miguel Lopes, Nuno Andre Coelho, Douglao, Elderson, Custodio, Hugo Viana (Djamal, 87), Mossoro (Rivera, 77), Barbosa, Paulo Cesar (Ukra, 66), Lima

Goals:
[1-0] Hugo Vieira, 16
[1-1] Lima, 25
[1-2] Helder Barbosa, 31
[2-2] Caicara, 88

Tom Kundert