Braga visited and beat FC Porto 2-1 this Friday in a game for the Matchday 17 of the Portuguese League. Fransergio and Paulinho scored the goals for Braga, as Francisco Soares scored the only goal for hosts Porto, who wasted two penalties at the do Dragao Stadium.
With the defeat, the Dragons are in second place of the Portuguese League, with 41 points, four less than Leaders Benfica, while SC Braga is fifth, with 27 points.
It took the fans at the Estadio do Dragao five minutes to watch the deadlock to be broken. FC Porto entered into the match with a much superior pace, but it was the Braga who scored first.
Following a corner from the left, the ball was barely cleared and Fransergio fires a shot towards the bottom of the net.
Initially, the goal was ruled out by the referee, but after the VAR check, it stayed.
Slowly, Porto tried to retake the game’s control and counted on Malian Moussa Marega to threaten Brazilian goalkeeper Matheus, who was the savior of Braga throughout the whole match.
The hosts had the chance to equalize from a penalty as Raul Silva fouled Corona inside the box and the referee awarded Porto a penalty.
Brazilian Alex Telles was the taker and struck a powerful shot in the middle, but his countryman saved it with his foot.
After the break, Braga introduced youngster David Carmo into the match, and he entered the game in a disastrous manner, as he brought Porto’s Otavio down inside the box. Another penalty for Porto.
This time it was Soares who had the responsibility of beating Matheus. However, the Porto striker hit the post.
However, in the next minute, Soares could redeem himself. Marega got the ball down the left, got into the box and crossed it to Soares, who fired home at the right corner from close-range. 1-1 with 58 mins on the clock.
Porto tried to put the pressure to turn the game around, but brave Braga went on to score the winner on 75 minutes through Paulinho.
The second goal of Braga came from another corner, this time from the right with Paulinho, at the first post, deflecting the ball to the second post with no chance for goalkeeper Marchesin.
After that, Porto lost control, mainly emotionally, and started to concede too many spaces, and giving Braga chances to augment their lead, but despite the chances, the visitors also wasted them, leaving the game faded to end 1-2.