Big surprise tonight at Sevilla with the home team being knocked out of the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE competition for season 2010 -2011 by Portuguese Club BRAGA. The final score was 3-4 with Braga winning with a 3-5 aggregate tally.
While SEVILLA FC go into the EUROPA LEAGUE competitition as a consolation the blow has been heavy especially in the financial pocket area as this loss supposes that 20% of the Clubs annual budget has gone up in smoke.
But Sevilla are only to blame as they underestimated Braga, were overtaken by the psychological pressure of a must win game & were fairly beaten by a better side who played their strategy of counter-attack Football with strong disciplined defending.
Sevilla FC started strong but slowly lost in effectivity until MATHEUS in the 31st min scored for Braga after a goalkeeping mistake from Palop which spread nerves like a virus within the Spanish side.
The 2ºhalf put another "knife" into the Sevilla FC heart when LIMA scored the 2º goal for BRAGA in the 51st min. Sevilla FC then finally reacted - late - & LUIS FABIANO scored in the 60th min followed by another via JESUS NAVAS in the 84th min who equalized.
It looked like Sevilla would pull off the miracle , but Braga player LIMA again scored a minute later to put things uphill again for the home side. Then in the 90th min LIMA scored again for his HAT-TRICK to take the wind out off the Sevilla sails & make history for the Portuguese team.
Sevilla FC fought with pride & KANOUTE scored in the 92nd min for his teams 3ºrd goal but the damage had already been done. Sevilla FC lose the Champions League prelimanary & experience the first big deception of the new 2010-2011 season.
Deception as it is, a big congratulations must go out to Braga who did an excellent prelimary & played an excellent game tonight to reach the maximum objective: to be part of the European Football elite.
