Two of the biggest and best teams in Portuguese beach soccer battled to an overtime instant classic
The 5-4 overtime victory for SC Braga over Sporting was just as exciting in the first three periods as it was in the extra frame. Regular time ended after eight goals were scored, four from each side. The overtime looked to finish scoreless and carry the match into the most exciting spectacle in sports, penalty kicks, but instead, it was Braga’s Be Martins, known simply as Be scored in the final second to give his side the enthralling victory. The victory was witnessed by more than 2100 people in the stands at the Praia do Ouro in Sesimbra,
The match was back-and-forth and going into the final high-intensity minutes but the Lions held onto the 3-2 advantage. Despite the disadvantage, José Marques’ side always had faith that they could find the equalizer and win. The final two goals of the match came from Be, as he scored the equalizer and then the winner with hardly any time left on the clock. The captain, Bruno Torres, and Bruno Novo also added to Braga’s score. The Green and White needed goals from other Portugal National Selection heroes to stay close, but Madjer and Belchior could not do enough to secure their team a victory.
SC Braga had won the 2013 and 2014 National Beach Soccer Championship but this marked the first season of winning the newly formed Elite Division, which has consolidated the best of the best in Portugal to create even more competitive matches.
