Real Betis don carry their European dream forward after beating Sporting de Braga 2-1 for Europa League quarterfinal second leg. The match wey play for Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja see Betis qualify for semifinal after 3-2 aggregate win.
Antony open scoring for Betis early for 12th minute with close-range header. Abde Ezzalzouli double the lead for 25th minute with right-foot shot from center of box after counterattack.
Sporting Braga get one back before halftime when Pau Víctor score with right foot from center of box for 37th minute. That one make tension dey for second half as Braga dey push for equalizer wey go send match go extra time.
Match referee Davide Massa show several yellow cards. Abde Ezzalzouli get yellow for dangerous play for 42nd minute while Vítor Carvalho of Braga also see yellow for same offense for 34th minute.
Braga suffer early blow when Bright Arrey-Mbi get injury for 19th minute and dem replace am with Gabriel Moscardo. Betis defender Diego Llorente also suffer injury wey stop play temporarily.
VAR come play big role for match. One goal wey Abde Ezzalzouli score get disallowed after VAR check show say e dey offside position. Another chance for Antony also get cancelled for offside after Cucho Hernández pass.
Betis starting lineup include Pau López in goal with defenders Héctor Bellerín, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente and Ricardo. Midfielders be Sofyan Amrabat, Álvaro Fidalgo and Pablo Fornals while attackers be Antony, Cucho Hernández and Abde Ezzalzouli.
Braga start with Lukás Hornícek in goal, defenders Gustav Lagerbielke, Vítor Carvalho and Bright Arrey-Mbi. Midfielders be Víctor Gómez, Al-Musrati, Demir Ege Tiknaz and Florian Grillitsch while attackers be Ricardo Horta, Gabri Martínez and Pau Víctor.
The match see plenty fouls and free kicks with both teams dey fight hard. Betis get more corner kicks while Braga dey try use counterattacks. Betis goalkeeper Pau López make important saves to protect the lead.
With this victory, Real Betis now qualify for Europa League semifinal where dem go face another top European team. The Betis fans wey full stadium dey celebrate as their team continue impressive European run for this season.
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