Ten-man Braga win again
Belenenses 1-3 Braga
 Braga produced another sterling performance to overcome difficult circumstances and clock up their fifth straight league victory.
Despite being down to ten men from the 16th minute and having to withstand heavy pressure throughout, breakaway goals from Paulo Cesar, Matheus and Renteria ensured Braga moved to within one point of leaders Benfica with a game in hand.
The scoreline may suggest it was a straightforward victory for Braga, but that was far from the case. Goalkeeper Eduardo put in another excellent performance with a series of outstanding stops, starting with a penalty save to prevent his team from going one goal down as well as a man down early on.
Centre-back Moises had brought down Lima in the box in the 16th minute and was shown a second yellow card for his troubles. Lima picked himself up to take the spot kick but Eduardo dived to his right to keep the ball out.
Key substitution
Fajardo, Lima, Celestino and Jose Pedro all threatened for the hosts as Belenenses bossed the game until Braga boss Domingos Paciencia showed astute tactical nous to bring on substitute Matheus for Hugo Viana. The speedy winger gave Braga an attacking outlet and would prove the catalyst to change the course of the game.
On the stroke of half time the visitors took a barely deserved lead as Paulo Cesar was in the right place at the right time to head in a Luis Aguiar free-kick.
The second half started with a bang as Eduardo produced two superb pieces of goalkeeping to tip Fajardo’s goal-bound effort from distance onto the bar, and then deny Mustafa with an astonishing reflex save.
Matheus class
With Belenenses’ players still scratching their heads wondering how they had not equalised, Matheus embarked on a high-octane run, searing past Mustafa before knocking the ball past Bruno Vale with real class.
Having working themselves a two-goal advantage despite being on the back foot for most of the match, Braga now began to pass the ball around well and control proceedings. It was little surprise when they extended their lead, and again it was an expert finish as Renteria won the ball off Marcos Antonio, bore down on goal and produced a cheeky lob to leave Bruno Vale stranded.
After an almost perfect display Eduardo will be disappointed at letting in a consolation goal for the hosts as he failed to hold onto a low shot and Yontcha pounced on the loose ball to score ten minutes from time.
Braga ran down the clock comfortably to maintain their remarkable form in this season’s Liga Sagres, and the Arsenalistas now prepare to host Maritimo next weekend. Despite the loss, the spirited performance of Belenenses will give coach Toni Conceicao plenty of hope that his team can yet lift themselves off the basement of the table and out of the relegation zone.
by Tom Kundert
Belenenses:
Bruno Vale, Mano, Mustafa (Andre Almeida, 56), Marcos Antonio, Miguelito, Pele (Fredy, 34), Celestino, Jose Pedro, Fajardo (Barge, 67), Yontcha, Lima
Yellow Cards: Marcos Antonio, Miguelito, Fredy, Lima
Sporting Braga:
Eduardo, Miguel Garcia, Moises, Rodriguez, Evaldo, Filipe Oliveira, Luis Aguiar, Hugo Viana (Matheus, 40), Alan, Paulo Cesar (Renteria, 62), Meyong (Paulao, 19)
Yellow Cards: Moises, Matheus
Red Card: Moises (16)
Goals:
[0-1] Paulo Cesar, 45
[0-2] Matheus, 48
[0-3] Renteria, 73
[1-3] Yontcha, 80
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Benfica fans just simply cant accept the fact that braga is probably going to take the league this year.
I have already accepted it... but if benfica wins thats cool too. Im a porto fan but i actually perfer benfica because if braga wins they will get handled in the uefa champions league... its bad for the portuguese league... but then again... benfica has done absolute s**t in uefa for the past 20 years!!!!!!
take note benfica
Well done, Braga.
My prediction: 2nd Place, ahead of Porto and Sporting CDP.
If benfica wins the league i will call benfiquistas Gloriosos till they are know as the "galinhas"