Sporting Braga held Dynamo Kyiv in a two-goal draw on Thursday at the Valeri Lobanovsky. The two goals have been scored within four minutes. The Ukrainians opened the score early in the game, while Husyev put it into the own net minutes right afterwards. Yarmolenko brought the first lead for Dynamo in the sixth minute through a superb header from seven yards which followed a powerful cross from the right.
Foto Source: clubs.7msport.com
The Portuguese broke back the home side in the 13th minute. Sporting won a corner on the left which Hugo Viana took it low. The cross traveled through the box and hit the right midfielder Husyev, the ball going into the own net. Kyiv, who dominated the entire game, were very close from an early comeback, but Yarmolenko struck it just wide in the 16th minute. Braga, who eliminated Liverpool in the last 16 round, were the first to concede a yellow. Defender Kaka was cautioned in the 35th minute for a clumsy challenge on Gusev.
The second part brought four more yellow cards. A fight between Garcia and Yarmolenko brought to both of them a yellow in the 49th minute. Just two minutes later, Paulo Cesar fouled Silva to get booked, while Shevchenko got his first in the 53rd minute following an ugly intervention on the same Garcia. The Ukrainian veteran would concede even a red one eight minutes later for complaints over an offside position.
Dynamo managed to keep the draw until the end despite being downed to ten. Popov received the sixth yellow of the game in the 68th minute for a trip on Alan. Braga coach Domingo tried to take advantage of Kyiv’s inferiority, replacing Salino and Lima with Mossaro and Meyong respectively. Unfortunately for the Portuguese things remained the same. It went 1-1 as the qualification remains open. If they reach the semi finals, Benfica could become the third side to flow into the best four. FC Porto and Benfica are already one step into the semis. Porto thwarted Spartak Moscow 5-1 in the first leg, while Benfica eased past PSV 4-1.
Yuri Semin used just one of three substitutions, introducing Shevchenko for Kravets at the half time. On the other side, Domingos also replaced Paulao with Custodio during the break. The second leg is scheduled to take place next Thursday on Estadio Municipal de Braga. The clash between the two is expected to be the toughest one among all. Unfortunately for the Ukrainians, they will be without Shevchenko, which could present a real handicap for Semin’s side, the more Dynamo will be playing away.
Dynamo Kyiv – Shovkovski; Popov, Yussuf, Hacherydy, Silva; Husyev, Eremenko, Vukojevic, Yarmolenko; Milevsky, Kravets. Reserves: Betao, M. Koval, D. Garmash, A. Nesmachni, A. Shevchenko, R. Zozulya, L. Almeida.
Sporting Braga – Artur; Garcia, Kaka, Paulao, Silvio; Salino, Viana, Vandinho; Alan, Paulo Cesar, Lima. Reserves: Dani, Anibal, H. Barbosa, Custodio, C. Figueiredo, Meyong, M. Mossoro.
