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Braga's Epic 4-2 Comeback Stuns Betis, Sends Them to Europa League Semis

Braga produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to defeat Real Betis 4-2 in their Europa League quarter-final second leg. The victory secured a 5-3 aggregate win and a place in the semi-finals for the first time in 15 years. After Betis's early goals from Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli, Braga's fightback was sparked by Pau Victor and completed by Vitor Carvalho, Ricardo Horta, and Jean-Baptiste Gorby. They will now face German side Freiburg for a place in the final.

Key Points: Braga Stages Epic Comeback vs Betis to Reach Europa League Semis

  • Overturned 2-0 deficit
  • Won 4-2 on night, 5-3 on aggregate
  • First semi-final in 15 years
  • Pau Victor goal sparked comeback
  • To face Freiburg next
2 min read

Braga comeback shocks Betis in Europa League QF second leg

Braga overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Real Betis 4-2, advancing 5-3 on aggregate to their first Europa League semi-final in 15 years.

"a remarkable victory which few saw coming with half an hour gone - UEFA reports"

Seville, April 17

Braga produced a comeback for the ages as they responded to conceding two early goals to beat Real Betis 4-2 in the quarterfinal second-leg and 5-3 on aggregate to reach their first Europa League semi-final in 15 years.

Braga will face Freiburg in the semi-finals. The first leg takes place in Portugal on April 30, with the return match in Germany on May 7.

Betis started brightest and Cucho Hernandez curled narrowly wide but Braga didn't heed the warning. Just seconds later, Betis had their opener as Abde Ezzalzouli lifted a cross to the waiting Antony, who steered in a delicate, cushioned header off the far post, reports UEFA.

It wasn't long before they had a second as well. This time Pablo Fornals was the architect, playing a smart one-two with Antony before crossing for Ezzalzouli to tap in.

Just when it seemed like Betis might pull away for good, Braga hit back with their first shot on target, Pau Victor taking advantage of a defensive mix-up to score - and it was a clear turning point in the game.

Braga built on that goal by levelling soon after the restart as Vitor Carvalho headed in Ricardo Horta's free kick, but even better was to come for the visitors. Four minutes later, Ricardo Horta put them ahead with a penalty after Demir Ege Tıknaz was brought down by Sofyan Amrabat.

Betis were stunned and there was time for one more from the away side. Perhaps their best of the night, a soaring volley from Jean-Baptiste Gorby with 16 minutes put gloss on a remarkable victory which few saw coming with half an hour gone.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan watching from India, that Gorby volley was an absolute worldie! The technique was sublime. Betis completely collapsed after that first Braga goal. Poor game management.
A
Aditya G
Respectfully, while the comeback was exciting, the quality of defending from both sides, especially for the first three goals, was quite poor. Indian Super League teams have shown better defensive organization at times. European football isn't always perfect!
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Priya S
Ricardo Horta was the real hero! A goal and an assist to completely change the game. Shows the importance of having a calm leader on the pitch. Hope our Indian players were watching and learning. 🙏
K
Karthik V
Woke up early to watch this match before work, totally worth it! The energy shifted completely after Pau Victor's goal. Betis fans must be heartbroken, but that's football. Kya match tha yaar! 🔥
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Michael C
Interesting to see a Portuguese team other than the big three doing well in Europe. Good for the league's coefficient. Freiburg will be a tough opponent in the semis, but Braga clearly have the momentum.

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