rui pedro's 27-minute hat-trick kept the home side's group h campaign afloat as an eventful first half ended the arsenalistas' european season.
a uefa champions league round of 16 place remains a possibility for cfr 1907 cluj following a frenetic group h encounter in which rui pedro completed a 27-minute hat-trick.
ın a dizzying first half, former fc porto trainee rui pedro demonstrated unerring finishing, but braga never looked out of the game even after they were reduced to ten men when douglão was sent off. however the defeat, and galatasaray aş's 1-0 win against manchester united fc, spelled the end of braga's european campaign, while cfr are sure of a uefa europa league berth and will forge on in europe's top club competition if they can better galatasaray's result on matchday six.
cfr pierced the braga defence after seven minutes, rafael bastos back-heeling felice piccolo's ball down the middle for rui pedro to chase and steer past beto. eight minutes later a long mário felgueiras throw propelled cfr towards a second, modou sougou being given a free run into the box and rui pedro beating a cluster of braga defenders to the ball to finish.
within two minutes no30 was on the scoresheet again, this time for braga. rúben micael sprayed a ball out right for alan to streak in and slip through felgueiras's legs for his fifth goal of the group stage. fragile at one end but fearsome at the other, cfr stormed back and sougou outpaced the braga defence again on the right, pulling the ball back for rui pedro to complete the first treble for a romanian side in the uefa champions league.
braga did still not look beaten and custódio's header was cleared off the line by ıvo pinto. however, josé peseiro's side had more to contend with when they were reduced to ten men before the break, douglão shown a straight red card following an incident with ıonuţ rada.
two goals and a player to the good, cfr sat back after the break looking to pick the portuguese side off on the counter. felgueiras was nonetheless furious when alan was given time to lash a long-range shot just off target, though all would have been forgiven had beto not saved from rafael bastos at the other end.
braga substitute mossoró had a goal ruled out for offside, and cfr's torment was prolonged as camora had the misfortune to strike both of beto's posts within the space of a couple of minutes. the whistle brought relief for the railwaymen, who now head for old trafford knowing the game is not over.
