Braga sweep Liberec aside
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Article summary
SC Braga 4-0 FC Slovan Liberec Carlos Carvalhal's side got back to winning ways by securing their first Group C victory in some style.
Article body
SC Braga claimed their first UEFA Cup Group C win in some style as they defeated FC Slovan Liberec 4-0 through goals from Ricardo Chaves, Marcel, Césinha and Bruno Gama.
Tentative start
The Portuguese side made a tentative start against a Liberec team who had taken a point off holders Sevilla FC on Matchday 1. It was little surprise given their 3-0 loss at AZ Alkmaar in their opening group game and the 4-1 reverse at home to CS Marítimo in the Portuguese Liga last weekend.
In control
Yet gradually Braga took control and after Maciel had smacked a shot against the post, Ricardo Chaves put them in front on the half-hour, picking up Maciel's pass and scoring from inside the box. Marcel then doubled the lead three minutes later, turning Césinha's centre past Marek Čech.
Debut goal
If it looked bleak for Liberec at the break, things got worse nine minutes into the second half when Césinha stroked home a penalty awarded for Tomáš Zápotočný’s foul on Maciel. The Czech champions tried to respond and Peter Šinglár rattled a post but when another goal did come, it was at the other end. João Pinto's last-minute shot hit the woodwork and rebounded to 18-year-old substitute Gama who beat Čech to celebrate his European debut in style.
