UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round

CFR 1907 Cluj 1 - 2 FT SC Braga

Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
43
FT
Thu, Aug 7
CFR 1907 Cluj
1-2
SC Braga
⚡ Intensity 28
⚖️ Balance 56
🏆 Stakes 38
🎲 Upset 0
Gorby's sharp brace breaks Romanian hearts.

Braga Survive Romanian Test as Gorby Shines

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 43/100. Gorby's clinical double ensured the Portuguese outfit navigated a highly challenging away fixture, keeping their European group stage ambitions firmly on track.

Early Portuguese Dominance

Early tension at Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu set the tone for a crucial evening. The Stakes were sky-high in this Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, with both sides desperate for continental progression. SC Braga wasted no time imposing their technical superiority on the difficult away turf. Just 17 minutes in, the visitors carved open the home defence with surgical precision. F. Navarro played the pivotal role, delivering a clever ball that allowed Gorby to slot home the vital breakthrough. The Portuguese outfit looked completely comfortable at this stage, dictating the tempo and trying to quieten the famously passionate local support. But CFR 1907 Cluj refused to roll over on their own patch. They ratcheted up the physical pressure, turning a polite European tie into a gritty, fiercely contested battle.

The Romanian Revival

The Balance of the tie shifted dramatically right on the half-hour mark. Just as Braga seemed ready to cruise comfortably towards the halftime interval, the Romanians found their lifeline. S. Sinyan capitalised on a lapse in concentration, striking back for the hosts with a thunderous effort. That 30th-minute equaliser sent the home crowd into absolute raptures and completely reset the tactical board for both managers. Suddenly, the Intensity on the pitch spiked to uncomfortable levels for the visitors. Both teams traded heavy blows in a fascinating contest of contrasting styles. Cluj used their raw physicality to disrupt the flow, forcing Braga to dig incredibly deep to survive the hostile environment.

Clinical Finishing Prevails

The definitive moment of the contest arrived shortly after the teams emerged from the tunnel. In the 50th minute, Gorby found a pocket of space inside the penalty area once again. He made no mistake, calmly finishing his second goal of the night to permanently restore the away advantage. That clinical strike effectively extinguished the lingering momentum Cluj had built before the break. While the overall match quality felt somewhat disjointed in the final half-hour, the result is all that truly matters at this ruthless stage of the competition. Braga managed the closing stages with professional cynicism, eating up the clock to secure a priceless 2-1 away victory. They head back to Portugal holding a massive advantage.

Key Questions

Who scored the goals for SC Braga?

Gorby was the standout performer for the visitors, scoring a crucial brace in the 17th and 50th minutes to secure the victory.

When did CFR 1907 Cluj equalize?

S. Sinyan scored a temporary equalizer for the Romanian hosts in the 30th minute before Braga eventually retook the lead.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

CFR 1907 Cluj

Goalkeepers
O. Hindrich
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
A. Bosec
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Sinyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Ilie
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Camora
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
A. Fica
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Djokovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
M. Korenica
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Nkololo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Munteanu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Postolachi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
A. Micai
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Abeid
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Bolgado
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Rocha
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Kresic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Kun
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. Keita
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Cordea
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Gligor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
C. Deac
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Badamosi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Gjorgjievski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

SC Braga

Goalkeepers
L. Hornicek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
V. Gomez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Oliveira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Niakate
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
G. Lagerbielke
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
J. Moutinho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Horta
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Gorby
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Dorgeles
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Zalazar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
F. Navarro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
T. Sa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Bellaarouch
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Arrey-Mbi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Lelo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vitor Carvalho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Roger
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Gharbi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Gabriel Moscardo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Rodrigues
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. El Ouazzani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Victor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Vidigal
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
08/07/2025 CFR 1907 Cluj 1 - 2 SC Braga UEFA Europa League Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
11/20/2012 CFR 1907 Cluj 3 - 1 SC Braga UEFA Champions League Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu
09/19/2012 SC Braga 0 - 2 CFR 1907 Cluj UEFA Champions League Estádio AXA
08/07/2025
UEFA Europa League Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
11/20/2012
UEFA Champions League Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu
09/19/2012
UEFA Champions League Estádio AXA
CFR 1907 Cluj Win
SC Braga Win
Draw