Timely Hoarau makes wasteful Braga pay

Guillaume Hoarau scored within four minutes of his introduction in Portugal as Paris Saint-Germain FC edged this UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie by a solitary goal; but SC Braga will wonder how after passing up a host of missed chances.

Telling blow
The towering 25-year-old was introduced after 77 minutes at the Municipal Stadium, and he wasted little time in making his presence felt, pealing off his marker and heading in Clément Chantôme's deep free-kick. It left Braga, who had peppered Mickaël Landreau's goal throughout, needing to score twice in nine minutes and it never looked likely.

Denied by woodwork
PSG are the second French team through to Friday's draw for the last eight, joining the side that beat them 3-1 at the weekend, Olympique de Marseille. At home, it was a chastening defeat and Paul Le Guen's men started tentatively in Braga. Conversely, the hosts bristled with intent and Paulo César gave early warning with an effort from 25-metres that Landreau could only tip on to the bar, though Chantôme also rattled the woodwork at the other end with an arcing free-kick.

Strikers isolated
Braga, lead by Luis Aguiar, soon regained the whip hand. The playmaker cracked a free-kick just wide of Landreau's left post on the half-hour mark and any hopes PSG had that the interval may have knocked the home side off their stride were quickly put to bed after the restart when Renteria volleyed wide. The French side were restricted to playing on the counterattack and strikers Péguy Luyindula and Mateja Kežman were left isolated to the extent that the latter made way 13 minutes from time, with Hoarau coming on.

Braga misery
It was to prove inspired by Le Guen as the new introduction capitalised on a misjudgement from keeper Eduardo to finally break the deadlock after 171 goalless minutes. It was cruel on Braga, whose night was summed up in the closing stages as Aguiar sent a free-kick just over before Paulo César drew a magnificent save from Landreau.