SC Braga, last season’s national runner-up, kicked off the new Liga Placard season with a hard-fought home victory. Hosting Porto Salvo Lions on Wednesday, the Arsenalistas had to battle to secure the win, only sealing the 4-2 result in the final minute against a resilient Porto Salvo side.
Hugo Neves, in his official debut for Braga, stole the spotlight. The pivot scored, assisted, and thrilled the crowd with his high-impact plays, showcasing remarkable decision-making throughout the match. The former Sporting player delivered an outstanding performance and looks set to quickly win over the Minho supporters.
Braga Takes Control
Leões de Porto Salvo had the stronger start, despite beginning with a 4×0 setup. They soon switched to a 3×1 system, utilizing pivots Rúben Góis and Pedro Santos. The visitors dominated the opening minutes, appearing calm defensively and dynamic in attack. Mamadú Ture was particularly active but lacked precision in front of goal. Braga, still finding their rhythm, capitalized on a defensive mistake. Tiago Brito stole the ball high up the court and chipped André Sousa to open the scoring.
The conceded goal rattled Porto Salvo, and Braga’s momentum – led by Neves – grew. A minute after the first goal, Gabriel Mazetto dazzled with an individual run, setting up Neves for a second. Shortly after, Neves initiated a fluid play, receiving from Ygor Mota and setting up Fábio Cecílio for a third goal.
Lions Fight Back
The halftime break helped Porto Salvo regain their footing. Despite a seemingly comfortable lead for Braga, the visitors came out strong in the second half, pushing the home side onto the back foot. With growing confidence, Oeiras’ team finally found the net in the 33rd minute. Anderson Fortes delivered a great pass through Braga’s high press, allowing Rodrigo Hiroshi to take on Dudú and score.
Leões continued to believe in their comeback. André Sousa moved forward to create a 5×4+GR advantage, and it paid off when Hiroshi assisted Rúben Góis to make it 3-2. The final minute was set for a thrilling finish, but Braga needed only ten seconds to seal the game, with Fábio Cecílio scoring his second goal and securing the three points. Joel Rocha’s men survived a scare, but Braga opened their 2024/25 campaign with a victory.
