In the last match of 2023, João Moutinho put the Minho team ahead, at 51. Clayton equalized by converting a penalty, at 75, but Simon Banza’s accurate header, at 77, and Rodrigo’s direct free kick Zalazar, already at 75.88, determined the final result in favor of Braga.
With this result, Sporting de Braga, which occupies fourth place, reached 32 points, while Casa Pia is in 12th place with 16 points in 15 rounds.
The ‘Casapians’ arrived at the last match of the year buoyed by their 3-1 victory over Desportivo de Chaves in the previous round, while the Minho side’s main goal was to return to their championship victories after their home defeat against Benfica . -0, on matchday 14.
However, it was the home team who started more aggressively and after just five minutes Felippe Cardoso was very close to opening the score after a move in which he gained position on Niakaté. It was worth the attention of goalkeeper Matheus, who was clever in leaving the goal and reducing the angle for the Gansu attacker’s shot.
In the following moments it was the team led by Artur Jorge who obviously took control of the match, without ever breaking the good defensive organization of the team led by Pedro Moreira.
The second half started lively and Sporting de Braga scored in the first minutes. After a corner kick, João Moutinho headed into the penalty area, where a move by Niakaté betrayed goalkeeper Ricardo Batista, causing the ball to end up in the goal.
The move had to be analyzed by the var, due to possible offside, but would ultimately be validated. At 62, it was Bruma’s turn to extend the score on the edge of the penalty area, after a good pass from Ricardo Horta, but this time Ricardo Batista cleared the danger with a good intervention.
However, Casa Pia remained in the discussion of the outcome and saw their efforts rewarded in the 75th minute, when Clayton successfully converted a penalty to punish a foul from Victor Gomez on the striker inside the penalty area.
However, the draw was short-lived, as after two minutes the Braga team took the lead again: a free kick from Rodrigo Zalazar on the right side of the attack and Simon Banza headed the second goal for Minho’s team. .
At the age of 86, Bruma had a clear chance to decide the match, but without opposition from Ricardo Batista, he shot at the left post. Bruma didn’t solve it, Rodrigo Zalazar solved it with a direct free kick. At the age of 89, the Uruguayan, who had come on in the second half, ended the match with a low shot that ended up in the bottom right corner.
With this result, Sporting de Braga ends the year in the best possible way, while Casa Pia has to make concessions again in Rio Maior, the house loaned to the geese this season.
Source: DN
