Match ends, Sporting Braga 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.
Wolves qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League after playing out a thrilling draw with Braga in Portugal.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side arrived at the Estadio Municipal de Braga a point behind the hosts and Group K leaders, needing a point to progress with a game to spare.
And they claimed the point they needed from an exciting encounter that saw them fall behind early on and race into a 3-1 lead before being pegged back.
Andre Horta's deflected effort off Ruben Neves gave the hosts an early advantage.
But the visitors responded in emphatic fashion, scoring three first-half goals, with Raul Jimenez's headed equaliser the catalyst for the turnaround.
After nodding in Jonny's cross to level, the Mexican's delivery enabled Matt Doherty to put Wolves ahead, with Adama Traore's low effort a minute later, from another Jimenez pass, doubling Wolves' lead.
However, Braga are now unbeaten in 12 European matches after they fought back in the second half.
Paulinho reduced their arrears before Fransergio headed in from close range to round off the scoring. The result sees both sides qualify with a game remaining.
Jimenez key to Wolves' improved fortunes
For much of this game Wolves delivered a performance which suggested any early-season woes juggling their Premier League and European commitments were over.
While the club's slow domestic start has been attributed to their first European campaign since 1980-81, head coach Nuno can now at least relax in the knowledge that the knockout phase does not get under way until 20 February.
"We are trying to develop and improve and to achieve other results. We don't have limits, we always try to keep going," said Nuno, who has been linked with Arsenal.
"We always want to compete, the momentum doesn't mean anything. It was our 26th game, we started very early in the season, but the balance has been good and the team is improving."
Back in his native Portugal, and perhaps a sign of the importance attached to the game, Nuno fielded the same starting XI that featured in their Premier League win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
It ultimately ensured Wolves secured the point needed to make their final Group K match against Besiktas inconsequential.
Mexican forward Jimenez's purple patch in front of goal contributed heavily to that.
Jimenez's header - his seventh goal in his past eight games makes him the most prolific Premier League player this season, with 15 goals across all competitions - galvanised his side.
It also ensured he became the first Wolves player to score in three consecutive games in Europe since Derek Dougan, who accomplished that feat en-route to the final of this competition in 1971-72.
And his importance to Wolves' continued resurgence cannot be understated, with the the Black Country club scheduled to play 13 Premier League matches before the last-32 ties in the Europa League start.
Best of the stats
- Wolves remain unbeaten away from home in European competition this season, winning five games and drawing once.
- Braga are unbeaten in 12 matches in all European competition since defeat at Marseille in February 2018 in the Europa League (W8 D4).
- Wolves have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions when conceding the first goal of the game (W1 D5) - against Aston Villa in the League Cup in October (1-2).
- Matt Doherty has scored 11 goals for Wolves since the start of last season - only Raul Jimenez (32) and Diogo Jota (14) have netted more for the club over this period.
- Wolves' Raul Jimenez has scored 15 goals in all club competitions this season, more than any other Premier League player in 2019-20.
Line-ups
Sporting Braga
Formation 4-4-2
- 82dos Reis Carvalho
- 47de Sousa Esgaio
- 36Viana Willemen Da Silva
- 13Fortuna dos SantosSubstituted forNaval Costa Eduardoat 58'minutes
- 5Cruz JerĂłnimo Sequeira
- 27Rodrigues Barbosa
- 60JoĂŁo Palhinha
- 15Luz Horta
- 21Ricardo HortaSubstituted forFonteat 73'minutes
- 90do Nascimento GalenoBooked at 37mins
- 20Dias FernandesSubstituted fordos Santosat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lima MagalhĂŁes
- 7Naval Costa Eduardo
- 8Agbo
- 11Guerreiro Viana
- 14dos Santos
- 17Barradas Novais
- 18Fonte
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 11Rui PatrĂcio
- 32DendonckerBooked at 84mins
- 16Coady
- 27SaĂŻss
- 2Doherty
- 8Neves
- 28JoĂŁo Moutinho
- 19Castro Otto
- 37TraoréSubstituted forVinagreat 75'minutes
- 9JiménezBooked at 68minsSubstituted forNetoat 70'minutes
- 18JotaSubstituted forCutroneat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Vallejo
- 7Neto
- 10Cutrone
- 21Ruddy
- 29Vinagre
- 49Kilman
- 54Otasowie
- Referee:
- Aleksey Kulbakov
- Attendance:
- 12,058
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away19
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Sporting Braga 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3.
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Foul by JoĂŁo Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Rui Fonte (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fransergio (Sporting Braga).
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Foul by RĂșben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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JoĂŁo Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by JoĂŁo Palhinha (Sporting Braga).
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Attempt missed. Romain SaĂŻss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Pedro Neto.
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Attempt missed. RĂșben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Nuno Sequeira.
Substitution
Substitution, Sporting Braga. Pablo Santos replaces Paulinho.
Booking
Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Paulinho (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Nuno Sequeira (Sporting Braga).
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Foul by RĂșben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Comments
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COYW
Good stuff.
Congrats Wolves
Watching what you cannot have?
From a Spurs Fan.
From a Fox
Up the Midlands
Btw anyone who thinks Nuno would leave now clearly doesnât know whatâs going on at wolves. This was just fake news to try upset a great team with a good chance in Europe