Braga’s Europa Conference League campaign on the brink after a 4-0 defeat to Fiorentina
Braga enjoyed a memorable night at Quarry as they suffered a 4-0 defeat by Fiorentina in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round.
Artur Jorge’s side showed promise in the first half before Luka Jović opened the scoring at half-time.
Vítor Tormena was sent off in the 55th minute, with Fiorentina showing no mercy and taking full advantage.
Jović scored his second goal five minutes later when Arthur Cabral came off the bench, his first goal being a beauty before slamming the ball into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.
Fiorentina are in control
Fiorentina fired the first chance of the competition, the ball fell friendly to Luka Jović, who hit Matheus directly with an acrobatic performance.
The Italian club played football patiently, looking for opportunities, particularly on the left wing, where captain and left-back Cristiano Biraghi found plenty of space.
Biraghi played a cross that fell to Giacomo Bonaventura, his shot deflected wide by André Horta before Rolando Mandragora slammed a shot over the bar from the resulting corner.
Fiorentina’s high pressing made it difficult for Braga to keep the ball and get it into attacking positions.
Inexplicably, Matheus passed the ball to Riccardo Saponara on the 6-metre edge, the goalkeeper saving an awkward moment when Saponara slipped before he could shoot. The Italian club’s chances continued, Jović heading Biraghi’s cross straight to Matheus.
Braga shows some promise
Braga finally came into play in the 27th minute as they won their first corner.
Iuri Medeiros whipped the ball in and found Sikou Niakaté from close range, the centre-back heading straight for Pietro Terracciano. Víctor Gómez next delivered a dangerous cross into the box and Abel Ruiz headed in Nikola Milenković before going wide.
Luka Jovic takes over
However, the Warriors couldn’t keep up the pressure, Fiorentina reestablished their dominance with Jović at the spearhead. He saw his shot blocked by Niakaté, but Nuno Sequeira intervened again before the Serb could pull the trigger.
Jović’s persistence paid off and was rewarded just before half-time when he scored the opener. His goal came from a predictable exit, Biraghi’s cross finding the former Benfica striker who passed Matheus.
Artur Jorge made a substitution at the break when he brought on Bruma for Iuri Medeiros.
Tormena sent off
Braga were dealt a heavy blow in the 55th minute when Vítor Tormena was sent off. Referee Matej Jug, originally booked for a late tackle against Jović, watched countless replays on the side monitor before turning the yellow card into a red card.
Uroš Račić was immediately sacrificed for Paulo Oliveira.
locks open
Sofyan Amrabat pushed the ball to Riccardo Saponara who sucked Matheus off his line, Saponara’s teasing ball over goal was converted by Jović at the back post.
It threatened to spiral out of control for Braga, who was understandably disheartened at being a man and two goals down. Jorge tried to create the spark in the 68th minute when he replaced Álvaro Djaló and Simon Banza with Ricardo Horta and Ruiz.
He was forced into another substitution four minutes later when Al Musrati went down injured and was replaced by André Castro.
Cabral rubs salt into the wound
Vincenzo Italiano made his first substitution after 75 minutes when Arthur Cabral replaced Jović.
It proved an inspirational move as the Brazilian striker put on a show four minutes later, a fantastic piece of individual skill stemming from a long throw. Biraghi flicked the ball into the box, Cabral took two first-class touches before hammering a volley past Matheus.
Italiano went all out in the 82nd minute when he brought on Antonin Barak, Jonathan Ikoné and Christian Kouamé. At this point, Braga wanted out, but more horror was still to come.
Fiorentina’s fourth goal came thanks to a brain blast from Niakaté, the defender’s pocket pecked by Ikoné, who selflessly steered the ball in the path of Cabral, who found the bottom corner.
game to forget
Braga overcame a slow start to rejoin the competition midway through the first half, but that was about as good as an ugly evening at the quarry.
Artur Jorge’s side have suffered two 5-0 defeats by Sporting CP in Lisbon this season, but Braga have not suffered a four-goal defeat at home since Pizzi inspired Benfica to a 4-0 win in September 2019.
Everything that could go wrong went wrong and when Vítor Tormena received his marching orders in the 55th minute it seemed best to go to Italy a goal down.
The 4-0 deficit is certainly too much to overcome in the second leg as Braga’s Europa Conference League season is pretty much over, leaving them to focus on the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal.
From Matthew Marshall at the Estadio Municipal de Braga