We’re all square after an eventful first half at the Estadia del Luz in the first leg of Benfica and Sporting Braga’s Europa League semifinal. Oscar Cardozo, suffering from lusty boos (at home, no less), though he had opened the scoring twice - first smashing home following a fumbled free kick only to see his effort ruled out for offside, and then making an excellent run through the Braga defence to go one on one with goalkeeper Guilherme Moraes Artur. Beating Artur was no problem, but just as the crowd was getting ready to erupt, the ball smacked off the bottom of the right post and trundled away to safety.
Benfica Vs. Sporting Braga: 0-0 At Halftime
It hadn’t all gone Benfica’s way, however. Left back Fabio Coentrao is playing through what originally looked to be like a serious injury (that would have caused some major issues), and Braga are looking more than a little dangerous on the counterattack. Which side is going to progress from this all-Portuguese semi-final? One suspects the next half will be vital in determining the shape of the time.
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