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Wednesday, 28 July 2010 20:56 |
Unstoppable Braga blow past Celtic
Sporting Braga 3-0 Celtic
Sporting Braga succeeded in transposing their magnificent domestic form from last season into Europe tonight to take a huge step towards the final qualification round of the Champions League.
Goals from Alan (penalty), Elderson and Matheus gave the Arsenalistas a fully deserved 3-0 victory against a desperately poor Celtic side.
Domingos had made it clear before the match that he considered Braga the underdogs. Thoughts that he was simply trying on a touch of kidology seemed unfounded as the Portuguese tactician sent out a cautious-looking line-up, with two holding midfielders Vandinho and Andres Madrid covering the back four, while the pacey Matheus was left on the bench.
After a cagey start Braga were first to threaten when Lima, Paulo Cesar and Andres Madrid peppered Zaluska’s goal in the 18th minute but the ball stayed out of the net. The hosts took the lead shortly afterwards when Ki-Sung-Yong handled in the box and Alan coolly slotted home the resulting penalty kick. Salino almost doubled the lead moments later as his shot whistled just wide.
Braga take command
While not hitting the heights of last season, Braga began to realise they had the beating of a Celtic side that were non-existent in terms of attack and looked fragile when the hosts increased the speed of their passing.
Braga continued to boss matters in the second half without committing many men forward. Midway through the second period Domingos sensed he should go for the throat and brought on Matheus.
The Brazilian winger provided an injection of speed and incisiveness to definitively push Braga into the ascendancy, setting up one goal, scoring another and generally rendering the tiring Scottish defence all at sea.
Debutant Elderson impresses
The excellent Elderson doubled Braga’s lead in the 76th minute, turning in a Matheus corner. The quality of the Nigerian left-back’s display, both when defending and when lending his weight to the attack, suggests that the loss of Evandro to Sporting will soon be forgotten.
The moment of the night occurred two minutes from time as Braga won a free-kick 35 metres from goal. Matheus teed up the ball and duly smashed a stupendous swerving shot into the back of the net.
Braga will be confident of completing an aggregate victory next week when they travel to Celtic Park for the second leg. Should they do so they will have just one more opponent between themselves and a place in the Champions League group stages.
by Tom Kundert
Braga:
Mario Felgueiras, Miguel Garcia, Moises, Rodriguez, Elderson, Andres Madrid, Vandinho, Alan (Helder Barbosa, 90), Leandro Salino, Paulo Cesar, Lima (Matheus, 66)
Yellow Cards: Salino
Celtic:
Zaluska, Cha Du-Ri, Juarez (James Forrest, 79), Hooiveld, Loovens, Mulgrew, Scott Brown, Maloney (Daryl Murphy, 71), Ki Sung-Yong, Ledley, Samaras
Yellow Cards: Mulgrew, Ki Sung-Yong, Hooiveld, Loovens
Goals:
[1-0] Alan, 26 (pen)
[2-0] Elderson, 76
[3-0] Matheus, 88
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No-one has mentioned it because it all resulted from the Braga's players knack for collapsing in a heap anytime they felt a breath on their necks.
The player never needed treatment in a million years. He went down to waste time, the Celtic player knew this and acted accordingly. Braga could kick the ball out all they want, the guy was acting it.
Do you ever get De-Ja-Vu? I remember another Portuguese team who dived all over the park to cheat Celtic a couple of years ago...
Celtic are a club with more grace than many. But as for no skill, you're right.
Domingos Pacienca deserves a lot of credit! As a Porto fan he was my idol when he was playing for us, and scoring that beautiful goal in Bremen to put us 5-0 up I'll never forget.
Now he's developing into a great manager and I hope to see him at the helm at Dragao one day...
Instead of realising that was bad play by the one Celtic player. And therefore kicking away the corner. They decide to get everyone forward and try to score a late away goal.
SHAMEFULL, NO GRACE, NO SKILL, TOTALY PATHETIC .
This Celtic team as issues, but this score line is unbelievable. I woudl have been thrilled with a 2-0 score line, but 4-0 is outstanding.
Maybe the most surprising was Braga's attacking style. They took it to Celtic, and it worked to great effect.
Braga was mostly a defensive team last season, although they knocked in 48 goals.
It was nice surprise for me.
I would also like to mention that i was disapointed in the attendance. Only 12,295 showed up out a possible 30,385. I know that it's July and vacation time, but Braga not even getting last seasons average of 14,274 has to be disappointing.
That being said, the crowd was LOUD. very nice.
Forca Braga!!!! This is good news for the Liga Sagres.
Forca Braga
GO BRAGA!!!
BRAGA!!!!
BRAGA!!!!
Celtic needs 4 goals to make CL NOW