POOR Portsmouth were well beaten on their return to Portugal as goals by Luis Aguiar, Wason Renteria and Alan secured a convincing win for Sporting Braga.
With AC Milan next up for Portsmouth in Group E, things might not get better quickly.
The visitors went behind when Aguiar hit a stunning 30-yard strike in the eighth minute, and Jermain Defoe missed the only clear chance for the Barclays Premi
er League side. Glen Little and Armand Traore limped off injured to add to Pompey's woes.
Around 700 Pompey fans congregated in one corner – compared to nearly 4,000 for the previous trip to Portugal in the first round second-leg success three weeks ago against neighbouring Vitoria Guimaraes – and Braga were determined to find an advantage in their enthusiastic support.
They made a dream start in the eighth minute when Aguiar curled in the opening goal from a superb 30-yard free-kick after a yellow-carded foul by Papa Bouba Diop on Vandinho.
Then there was a new setback for Pompey as Little pulled up with an injured hamstring and had to be replaced by John Utaka in the 21st minute.
Things got worse for the English side when Braga grabbed a second goal two minutes after the break.
It was cleverly set up by Meyong's step-over dummy, Aguiar's through pass and then Renteria's well-timed run, the striker staying just onside for a cool finish.
Braga wrapped up victory three minutes from time when Sean Davis steered a right-wing cross against his own post and Alan followed up to net.
Braga: Eduardo, Frechaut, Moises, Alberto Rodriguez, Evaldo, Vandinho (Paulo Cesar 86), Alan, Matheus (Cesar Peixoto 63), Aguiar, Renteria (Stelvio Cruz 83), Meyong. Subs not used: Mario Felgueiras, Mossoro, Jorginho, Joao Pereira.
Portsmouth: James, Campbell, Pamarot, Armand Traore (Kanu 62), Distin, Davis, Diop, Hreidarsson (Belhadj 46), Little (Utaka 21), Defoe, Crouch. Subs not used: Ashdown, Mvuemba, Hughes, Wilson.
Referee: D Ceferin (Slovenia)
The full article contains 334 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
