Picture: OM.net

1st Team

Braga - OM (1-0): Beaten, but through

Posted by
OM.net
On Thursday 22 February 2018 at 10:07

OM booked a place in Friday’s UEFA Europa League last 16 draw after a 3-1 aggregate success against SC Braga, despite a 1-0 defeat on the night.

Coming into the game with a three-goal lead, the main objective was to maintain the advantage in the face of a Braga side who have been impressive at the Municipal Stadium this season.

After a positive early start for OM the tide quickly turned in favour of the hosts who quickly went to work in clearing the deficit.

The breakthrough came on 32 minutes when Ricardo Horta struck past Yohann Pelé, after a good cross from the left bamboozled the OM defence.

The nervousness continued for OM through to the second half. Substitute Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Valere Germain exchanged chances before Wilson Eduardo spurned a big chance for the hosts.

OM's best chances fell to Hiroki Sakai and Lucas Ocampos who were both denied by an in-form Matheus, whose performances have marked the whole tie.

But time to come back to the Portuguese side who still was trailing by two goals, even after an unfortunate slip by Pelé was not capitalized on by Eduardo.

And so it is OM who progressed into the last 16, making this season the furthest.

The draw takes place tomorrow at UEFA HQ in Nyon at 13:00 CET. Attention now turns to the important double-header against Paris Saint-Germain in the capital.