Solid Sevilla too strong for Braga

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC claimed a comfortable win against SC Braga to overtake their Portuguese opponents in Group C and continue their unbeaten start as Luis Fabiano and Ernesto Chevantón struck at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

Early pressure
Sevilla took the game to the visitors in the opening stages with Adriano Correia being denied by Braga goalkeeper Paulo Santos, and Fabiano and Daniel Alves sending shots wide of target. In a rare foray forward from the visitors, Sevilla goalkeeper Andrés Palop was forced into action to keep out Luís Filipe's drive from just outside the area. Normal service was resumed, however, with the hosts continuing to dominate and Correia being thwarted once more. Frédéric Kanouté fired wide and Christian Poulsen also went close.

Fabiano breakthrough
Sevilla's pressure finally paid off five minutes before the break as Correia's deep cross found Fabiano and the Brazilian scored from inside the box with a powerful strike. Not content with that, Sevilla could have doubled their advantage through Kanouté and Correia as Braga struggled to cope with the waves of attacks on their goal. The Spanish team had taken a point from their opening fixture at FC Slovan Liberec but ended any doubt that they would collect their first win with 14 minutes remaining: substitute Chevantón converting the rebound after Santos had failed to hold Renato's stinging shot.

Grasshoppers test
There was still time for Alfaro to rattle a post in the last minute as Sevilla coasted to a victory that means they will secure their last-32 place with a success at Grasshopper-Club next Wednesday. Braga, with three points from three matches, can resurrect their hopes when they face the same opponents in Portugal on 14 December.