Braga 1 Liverpool 0:IT HAD seemed an affront to Liverpool's illustrious European past that their present, uninspiring campaign should come so close to equalling a club-record 14 games unbeaten on the continent. That achievement, however, was denied Kenny Dalglish's team last night as they were deservedly punished for a dire display in Braga.
On the final whistle the Portugal side celebrated rather too exuberantly for such a slender first-leg victory. Liverpool exited sheepishly, disappointed but no doubt relieved to retain an interest in the Europa League after this meagre offering. A different proposition must surely await Braga at Anfield next week.
Adventure has struggled to make it past security at John Lennon airport when Liverpool have travelled this season and this was another soul-sapping away performance for their followers to endure, ranking down there with Utrecht and Sparta Prague – or Arsenal in Barcelona – as nights when a shot on goal was a bonus.
Dalglish’s priorities were stated without his team taking to the field of the oddly impressive Estadio Municipal, consisting of two-sides stadia, one-side grass verge and one-side quarry face. The decision to leave Andy Carroll on the bench for 57 minutes was no surprise as the striker continues his recovery from a thigh injury but with Christian Poulsen and Jay Spearing drafted into midfield it was clear that containment was the order. Given Liverpool were fortunate to reach half-time only one goal in arrears, the policy was not a convincing success.
Seventeen uneventful minutes had elapsed when Brazilian Mossoro, the fulcrum of Braga’s attacking play, swept past Sotirios Kyrgiakos on the left of the Liverpool penalty area and was sent tumbling by a clumsy challenge from the Greek international.Dalglish shook his head in despair at a needless tackle. Though Jose Reina read which way Alan’s spot-kick was heading, the power and accuracy of the Braga midfielder’s drive towards his bottom right-hand corner gave the Liverpool goalkeeper no chance.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, the quarry finally rocked while Braga sensed a second against compliant opponents. Lucas Leiva and Spearing made important interceptions to prevent Brazilian Lima breaking through and a Hugo Viana free-kick troubling Reina respectively.
Moments later another Braga free-kick almost produced a sublime goal from the left-back Silvio. Mossoro miskicked in front of goal and when the ball was cleared to Silvio 30 yards from goal he unleashed an exquisite volley that Reina was nowhere near but which smacked the face of his crossbar. In first-half stoppage time Liverpool had their first effort on goal, a tame header from Raul Meireles that failed to trouble goalkeeper Artur.
Dalglish sought to rectify Liverpool’s carelessness in midfield and ineffective attack at a stroke early in the second half when he introduced Carroll for the heavy-footed Poulsen. Immediately Braga were unsettled by the towering, if not fully fit, centre-forward. Carroll flicked Dirk Kuyt through on goal with his first header but Artur smothered. He was then penalised for climbing at a Meireles corner, not that he needs to at six foot four, and had a left-foot shot deflected over Artur but wide. Kuyt also tested the goalkeeper after a neat chest and volley on the edge of the area before Liverpool’s threat disappeared once more.
BRAGA: Artur; Alberto Rodriguez, Kaka, Miguel Garcia, Silvio, Mossoro (Paulao 69), Leandro Salino, Hugo Viana, Paulo Cesar (Helder Barbosa 90+4), Lima (Meyong 77), Alan. Booked: Kaka. Subs not used: Cristiano, Paulao, Dani, Anibal, Peterson, Helder Barbosa, Meyong.
LIVERPOOL: Reina; Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Skrtel, Meireles, Cole, Lucas, Spearing, Poulsen (Carroll 57), Kuyt. Booked: Poulsen. Subs not used: Gulacsi, Wilson, Flanagan, Maxi, Pacheco, Ngog, Carroll.
Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium).
