defender moisés is desperate for sc braga to "make history" by reaching the knockout phase as they prepare to face leaders fc shakhtar donetsk in their final group h assignment.
defender moisés is hoping sc braga can "make history" by forging their way through to the uefa champions league knockout phase, though their prospects hang in the balance ahead of their final group h outing away against leaders fc shakhtar donetsk on wednesday.
braga travel to ukraine knowing even a win could prove insufficient as much will also depend on arsenal fc's result against fk partizan in north london. level with the gunners on nine points – three behind shakhtar – the portuguese side are nonetheless determined to extend their maiden campaign at this level. "it would make history for the club," said moisés. "we've already made history by playing in the champions league, but i think we're good enough to get through. we're good enough and i think we deserve it after everything we've done this season – all the difficulties we've gone through and overcome."
qualification would certainly represent a supreme achievement for the centre-back and his colleagues, given that they kicked off with a humbling 6-0 reverse at arsenal on matchday 1. "i think that made the team learn fast," said moisés, who has previous experience of uefa champions league action from his time with fc spartak moskva. "we run the risk of getting 12 points and still not qualifying, but i think this debut in the champions league has only been positive for braga and we're still trying to qualify. there are still good things to come for us and we can only give ourselves a pat on the back for what we've done so far."
heads were certainly turned when domingos paciência's men earned a measure of revenge by downing arsenal 2-0 last time out, and victory against shakhtar would represent their fourth consecutive success in the section. "there's no doubt that we'll go for the win," added moisés. "we know we're up against a team who are very strong on their own ground, but i think we proved ourselves away against sevilla and celtic [in qualifying], so the players are used to this type of game and we'll do everything to get a good result."
signed from cr flamengo in 2008, the brazilian-born stopper has attracted plenty of praise for his own displays in the competition, and he underlined that these are inspiring times for the club that finished runners-up in the portuguese liga last term. "it's very satisfying to be part of an era at braga where we can all feel the change in the air," he said. "that's what's great about football, you know that you're doing your job but also being appreciated for it. i think [the uefa champions league] has been important for both the city and the club."
the rarest of goals from răzvan raţ set the hosts on course for a win that takes them through to the knockout phase for the first time.
fc shakhtar donetsk are through to the uefa champions league knockout phase for the first time in the club's history as two late strikes ended sc braga's debut campaign.
the home side were frustrated for long periods but two goals in five minutes eventually brought the home side earn a deserved victory. răzvan raţ proved the unlikely hero for the ukrainian titleholders, as his first goal in 83 uefa club competition appearances – going back over a decade – broke the deadlock. he then set up luiz adriano to make the game safe as shakhtar finished top of group h; third-placed braga move into the uefa europa league round of 32.
shakhtar knew a point would be good enough to clinch top spot, and made a subdued start as braga enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. alan had a speculative shot from distance, which failed to trouble andriy pyatov.
the hosts began to find their stride, though, and on 21 minutes the dangerous douglas costa, not for the first time, managed to get past his marker with ease. his inviting pull-back was turned over by willian. shakhtar were enjoying the lion's share of possession but their caution meant artur in the braga goal was a virtual spectator for the first 45 minutes.
mircea lucescu's side continued to attack following the resumption, and their best move so nearly brought the opening goal. the ball fell to douglas costa on the edge of the area, but the 20-year-old's left-footed curler went agonisingly wide of the far post. frustration was beginning to get to the home players and their fans, but just as shakhtar looked to be running out of ideas, the donbass arena finally had something to cheer about on 78 minutes.
darijo srna's deep cross found raţ on the edge of the area, and the romanian international drilled a fine left-footed shot past artur to break his european duck. it was the club's 100th uefa champions league goal, and raţ capped an excellent game five minutes later as he turned provider, bursting down the left and sending in a cross that gave luis adriano the simplest of tasks to seal the points. the ukrainian side, in their 11th uefa champions league campaign, are finally beyond the group stage.
1. fc shakhtar donetsk...6...5...0...1...12...6...6...15 2. arsenal fc...6...4...0...2...18...7...11...12 3. sc braga...6...3...0...3...5...11...-6...9 4. fk partizan...6...0...0...6...2...13...-11...0
yardımcı hakemler: thorsten schiffner (ger), mark borsch (ger)
4. hakem: guido winkmann (ger)
çzigi hakemleri: markus wingenbach (ger), marc seemann (ger)
shakhtar donetsk: andriy pyatov (gk), jadson (dk. 73 henrik mkhitaryan), luiz adriano, willian, taras stepanenko, olexiy gai (dk. 84 vasyl kobin), douglas costa (dk. 62 alex teixeira), răzvan raţ, dmytro chygrynskiy, darijo srna (c), yaroslav rakitskiy
yedekler: rustam khudzhamov (gk), tomáš hübschman, olexandr kucher, mykola ishchenko
teknik direktör: mircea lucescu (rou)
braga: artur (gk), alberto rodríguez, paulo césar, miguel garcia, luis aguiar (dk. 72 hugo viana), leandro salino (dk. 81 hélder barbosa), sílvio, alan (dk. 69 lima), aníbal capela, vandinho (c), matheus
yedekler: felipe (gk), mossoró, léo fortunato, andrés madrid
