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By Open Chronicle with Agencies
SC Braga secured a dramatic late victory over SC Freiburg, winning 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final and taking a narrow advantage into the return match in Germany.
The Portuguese side, playing in their first European semi-final in 15 years, made a strong start at the Estádio Municipal. Midfielder Demir Ege Tiknaz opened the scoring in the eighth minute, sliding home from close range after a well-worked attacking move.
However, Freiburg responded almost immediately. Just eight minutes later, Vincenzo Grifo equalized with a composed finish, converting a precise cross from Jan-Niklas Beste to silence the home crowd.
After an explosive opening phase, the game settled into a more tactical rhythm. Braga had a golden opportunity to regain the lead just before halftime when VAR awarded them a penalty following a foul by Philipp Lienhart on Gustaf Lagerbielke.
But Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu produced a crucial save, diving to his right to deny Rodrigo Zalazar from the spot and keeping the score level heading into the break.
Braga manager Carlos Vicens introduced attacking changes in the second half as the hosts pushed for a winner. Their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time.
In the second minute of added time, a shot from Vitor Carvalho slipped through Atubolu’s grasp, allowing Mario Dorgeles to pounce on the rebound and fire home from close range, sealing a crucial victory for the home side.
The result gives Braga a slim edge ahead of the return leg in Germany, where Freiburg will look to overturn the deficit and reach the final.
The winner of the tie will face either Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa in the Europa League final, scheduled for May 20 in Istanbul. Forest currently holds a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of their semi-final clash.