Liga Sagres: Pacos de Ferreira 1 Braga 1

21 April 2012 00:06

Braga's hopes of clinching the Liga Sagres title are all but over after being held to a 1-1 draw by mid-table Pacos de Ferreira on Friday.

Needing maximum points to keep pace with leading pair Porto and Benfica at the top of the table, Braga could only salvage a point in a spiteful clash in which three players were shown red cards.

Braga midfielder Vinicius was sent off after just 22 minutes after receiving a second yellow and the hosts took a shock lead five minutes later when Vitor found the back of the net.

Pacos was reduced to nine men when Caetano - who turned 20 on Friday - and Luisinho were dismissed either side of half-time, giving the visitors almost an entire half with a superior numerical advantage.

They eventually scored the equaliser when Portuguese international Nuno Gomes scored on 80 minutes.

But with three matches remaining in the season, the draw leaves Braga with a mountain to climb if they want to snatch the title.

Leaders Porto host 12th-placed Beira Mar on Saturday night, while Benfica face a tough clash with fifth-placed Maritimo.