The final whistle goes, and it’s the Portuguese side who will head through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Monaco and a 3-1 win on aggregate.
They took the lead in the 19th minute of the match, as a quick counter ended with a Ruiz shot from a distance that Nubel could only push into the roof of his net.
The goal sparked some more urgency from the hosts as they knew they had to change the game, and a couple of Matheus saves were required from Volland and Ben Yedder to keep the score at 1-0 heading into the break.
The hosts pressed in the second half but couldn’t find a way through until the 90th minute of the match.
When Disasi rose highest to head a Golovin corner into the back of the net.
However, that goal came far too late, and the visitors could see out the remaining minutes and secure their progression into the next round.
Starting Lineup:
MONACO (4-4-2): Alexander Nubel;
Vanderson, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Caio Henrique;
Jean Lucas, Aurelien Tchouameni, Gelson Martins, Sofiane Diop;
Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland.
BRAGA (3-5-2): Matheus;
Vitor Tormena, Paulo Oliveira, David Carmo;
Al Musrati, Andre Castro, Andre Horta, Rodrigo Gomes, Fabiano;
Abel Ruiz, Ricardo Horta.
Goals:
The visitors take the lead in this second leg!!! A quick Braga counter ends with Nubel palming away a Castro shot before Ruiz lets fly from a distance. Nubel gets another hand to it, but not enough to push wide, and it deflects into the top of the net to make it 1-0 in this second-leg and 3-0 in the tie.
Disasi grabs a goal back!!! He rises highest to meet a corner at the back post and sends a towering header into the bottom right corner, and make it 1-1.
So, what’s next?
The hosts will look to put aside the disappointment of crashing out of Europe and battle to finish in the European qualification places in Ligue 1, where they are six points off fifth-placed Strasbourg.
The visitors will now focus on the next round, as they eagerly await the draw on 18th March.
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