Mario Dorgeles’ added-time strike gave Braga a dramatic 2-1 win at home over Freiburg in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final, handing the Portuguese side a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg. The victory marked Braga’s second major European semi-final appearance; their first came in 2010/11 when they reached the Europa League final on away goals against Benfica after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Braga struck early, continuing a knockout-stage pattern of quick home goals, when Demir Ege Tiknaz reacted fastest to a low Victor Gomez cross to prod the hosts into an eighth-minute lead. The lead lasted only until the 16th minute, when Freiburg captain Vincenzo Grifo finished calmly after Jan-Niklas Beste burst forward on the right and picked out the winger — Grifo’s third goal in four Europa League matches.
The hosts’ afternoon became more difficult when influential forward Ricardo Horta, who had scored four times in the campaign, went off injured in the 25th minute. On the stroke of half-time, Germany Under-21 goalkeeper Noah Atubolu produced a superb full-stretch save to keep Freiburg level, turning away a fierce penalty from Rodrigo Zalazar.
The second half remained evenly contested. Freiburg threatened to snatch the lead when Maximilian Eggestein forced a fine save from Braga keeper Lukáš Horníček, but the decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time. Substitute Mario Dorgeles, who had replaced the injured Horta, kept his composure to follow up after Atubolu failed to hold Vitor Carvalho’s shot, converting from close range in the 92nd minute to send the Braga crowd wild.
In a separate semi-final first-leg fixture, Chris Wood’s 200th career goal proved enough for Nottingham Forest to take a 1-0 lead into their second leg. After a cautious opening, Forest grew into the game and created the clearer chances — Morgan Gibbs-White headed one effort wide and another onto the roof of the net, while Elliot Anderson also went close. (IANS)
Original Source: https://www.sentinelassam.com/sports-news/europa-league-braga-edge-freiburg-2-1-in-europa-league-semi-final-first-leg
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Publish Date: 2026-05-02 13:20:00
