Braga score four and end Zeleznicar Pancevo’s European run

Braga defeated Zeleznicar Pancevo 4-0 in the Conference League qualifiers. The Portuguese side advanced with a 5-0 aggregate score. Zeleznicar’s first European campaign ended in the second qualifying round.

Ricardo Horta opened the scoring from a penalty before half-time. Gabriel Silva added Braga’s second goal shortly before the interval. Pau Victor and Fran Navarro completed the result after the break.

Braga had already won the first leg 1-0 in Pancevo. Zeleznicar travelled to Portugal with only a one-goal deficit. The return match became much harder after Braga’s strong first half.

Horta breaks the resistance from the penalty spot

Zeleznicar began the match with a narrow deficit from the first leg. The Serbian side stayed level during the opening part of the return. Braga controlled possession and looked for space around the penalty area.

The first goal arrived after Braga received a penalty in the twenty-seventh minute. Captain Ricardo Horta accepted the responsibility for the home team. His finish doubled Braga’s aggregate advantage.

That goal changed the position of both teams in the tie. Zeleznicar now required three goals to move ahead on aggregate. Braga gained more room as the visitors searched for a response.

Horta had also scored the only goal during the first match. That earlier penalty gave Braga a controlled starting point in Portugal. His second successful kick strengthened the same advantage.

Gabriel Silva adds a second before half-time

Braga continued attacking after the opening goal instead of protecting its lead. The hosts kept Zeleznicar inside its own half for long periods. A second breakthrough arrived one minute before half-time.

Gabriel Silva scored in the forty-fourth minute for the Portuguese side. His goal sent Braga into the interval with a clear advantage. The aggregate score had reached three goals without reply.

Zeleznicar had competed closely during the first match in Pancevo. Late chances there forced Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek into important saves. The return produced fewer openings for the Serbian attack.

Braga’s two first-half goals removed most of the remaining pressure. The hosts entered the break with control of the match. Zeleznicar faced a large recovery against experienced European opposition.

Pau Victor settles the contest after the interval

The second half began with Braga still holding the initiative. Zeleznicar tried to move higher but left more space behind. The home side used that space during the next attacking phase.

Pau Victor scored the third goal in the sixty-third minute. That finish moved Braga four goals ahead across the two matches. The remaining period then became a controlled conclusion.

Braga managed the ball while continuing to create attacking situations. Zeleznicar kept competing but could not reduce the deficit. The visitors also failed to score during either leg.

The score reflected Braga’s stronger finishing across the full tie. Zeleznicar had produced a competitive performance at home. The second match showed a wider difference near both penalty areas.

Navarro closes a four-goal home victory

Fran Navarro added the final goal during the closing minutes. His eighty-fifth-minute finish completed Braga’s 4-0 home victory. It also established the final aggregate score at 5-0.

Four different Braga players scored during the second leg. That spread showed the number of attacking options available to the hosts. Horta remained the only scorer across both matches.

Zeleznicar’s European debut included two matches against established Portuguese opposition. The club kept the first leg close before losing heavily away. Its campaign ended without a goal but with valuable international experience.

The home leg in Pancevo was Zeleznicar’s first match in UEFA competition. Several late attacks tested Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek during that evening. The one-goal result kept the tie open before the journey to Portugal.

Braga then recorded a clean sheet across both qualifying matches. Horta scored the only goal in Pancevo and opened the return. That contribution shaped the tie before three teammates added goals.

The final whistle confirmed Braga’s place in the next qualifying round. Zeleznicar left the competition after its first continental tie. The Serbian club now returns to its domestic programme.

Dinamo Minsk await Braga in the next round

Braga will face Dinamo Minsk in the third qualifying round. The next tie begins with a home match in Portugal. The return is scheduled for the following week.

Dinamo Minsk advanced despite losing its second match against Neftchi. A larger advantage from the first leg carried the team through. Braga therefore meets another opponent with recent qualifying experience.

The four-goal result gives Braga a positive finish before that contest. Horta, Silva, Victor and Navarro all enter the next round after scoring. Hornicek also completed two clean sheets against Zeleznicar.

Zeleznicar’s elimination completes a short but historic first European appearance. The Pancevo club tested Braga closely during its home match. Braga’s second-leg quality then decided the tie clearly.