Rapid Reaction: UEFA Europa League Semi-Finals 2nd Leg

After an evening of football, it came down to 2 sides claiming their opportunity for glory in Dublin. So which 2 clubs made it through? 

SL Benfica came into Braga's AXA Stadium with a 2-1 edge on their Portuguese counter-parts and are now making their way back to Lisbon where they will hang up their boots for the Europa League. SC Braga stunned the Benfica nation and Europe by winning the tie 1-0 thus progressing 2-2 on aggregate as their away goal in the 1st leg was of huge importance. 

Custodio is surrounded by his teammates as he scores the goal which sends SC Braga to the final.

Domingos Paciência's side came out and were quick about their business and their worked paid off in the 16th minute when former Sporting CP captain Custodio scored off an impressive header to put Braga in control of the tie. For next hour and a half Benfica were relentlessly trying to peg back a winner but it was not to be. Saviola came close in the 2nd half when his shot hit the post as Benfica failed to convert despite being given 8 corners.


Benfica's defeat puts further pressure on Jorge Jesus and the entire club after supporters were forced to watch Benfica concede the league title at home to their bitter rivals FC Porto only then to relive a similar defeat at their hands when they blew a 2-0 away lead in the Cup of Portugal. Now this European exit has put down any chance for redemption this season as Benfica had sought to face to Porto in the final. However, this was not all their own-doing as SC Braga orchestrated their game-plan to perfection against the Red Devils.

Domingos Paciência (Right) & Andre Villas-Boas (Left)

Braga played high pressure football against Benfica which gave Benfica limited space for movement. Eduardo Salvio was one of Benfica's most missed players of the tie as his speed and trickery would have been very useful on the right flank. Pablo Aimar was also very missed at the center of the midfield in a match where Benfica was in need of a player with his individual talent to create something. However, Braga seemed to just want it slightly more than Benfica on this European night and are deservingly in the final.


I wrote in a previous article how Domingos Paciência has been doing a fantastic job over the past 2 seasons and how he has been overshadowed by his younger managerial and Portuguese counter-part at Porto, but these series of displays in the tournament cannot be ignored much longer. On May 18th, Paciência and Villas-Boas will lead their sides in an all-Portuguese affair and along with us watching so too will various large European clubs. Villas-Boas has been the target of many clubs as he's led his club to an undefeated league campaign and incredible European campaign; however, he's set on remaining with FC Porto for at least another season. His side failed to win the 2nd leg in Spain but moved into the final on an aggregate score of 7-4. 

Falcão breaks Jurgen Klinsmann's record with his 16th goal in the UEFA Europa League.

Falcão highlighted the progression to the final as he scored in a losing effort, Porto fell 3-2, but managed to shatter Jurgen Klinsmann's tournament goal record of 15 when he slotted away his 16th of the tournament. The scary thought is that he still has 1 more match to add to his new record where he'll tell you he's more concentrated on scoring to win the European Cup for Porto. 


It's a tournament's first ladies and gentlemen, an all-Portuguese final between FC Porto and SC Braga and it will take place on May 18th in Dublin, Ireland. I had predicted Porto to advance 4-1 on aggregate an although I didn't guess the score-line correctly, I was right with predicting their progression. However, I predicted Benfica to advance 3-1 on aggregate where I was clearly wrong, but I suppose you can't get them right all the time.