Braga produced an impressive performance to see off Maribor 5-1 in Portugal and move level with the leaders in Europa League Group H.
Portuguese run out 5-1 winners to boost qualifying hopes
Braga produced an impressive performance to see off Maribor 5-1 in Portugal and move level with the leaders in Europa League Group H.
Braga, beaten finalists in last year's competition, enjoyed an ideal start as they went 2-0 up in the first seven minutes through Rodrigo Lima and Alan.
Uwa Echiejile headed home a third before half-time with Paulo Vinicius and Fran Merida notching two late goals for the hosts.
The Slovenian side never gave up and Dalibor Volas scored what proved to be a consolation shortly after the hour mark, but the result was never in doubt.
The hosts went ahead in the fourth minute when Alan delivered an inswinging corner from the left which found Lima, who slotted into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from close range.
The hosts doubled their lead three minutes later when Alan and Lima reversed roles, the latter crossing from the left for his team-mate who drilled home into the top left of the goal from 20 yards.
It was a stunning start to the game which rocked Maribor.
Volas had a shot blocked but it was all Braga with Bindi Djamal, Paulo Vinicius and Hugo Viana all having efforts while Helder Barbosa put a header wide.
A blocked shot by Agim Ibraimi was the visitors' main effort during this time and they were grateful to goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic when he tipped over Viana's long-range effort.
Inevitably the hosts scored again before half-time, Echiejile heading home this time. Alan was again involved, his corner to the far post headed back by Vinicius before Echiejile found the net.
Lost cause
To Maribor's credit, they did not lie down but instead Volas unleashed a shot which was pushed round the post by Quim.
Handanovic parried Alan's shot almost immediately after the break before Volas, who was refusing to accept the game was a lost cause, had an effort blocked.
Volas then got his just reward when he pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute with a right-footed volley into the bottom left of the goal.
Moments later the Slovenians almost scored again but Ibraimi's 30-yard shot came back off the bar.
That merely spurred the hosts on, Viana having a shot tipped over and Baiano firing over before Lima hit the post with a shot from the six-yard box.
Djamal had a shot tipped round the post before the Maribor defence was breached again in the 85th minute.
Yet again it was from an Alan corner, which found Vinicius in the six-yard box to head home.
The hosts were not done yet, though, and in the 90th minute Merida pounced to fire home from the right side of the six-yard box after Handanovic parried Paulo Cesar's shot.
Birmingham and Club Brugge are also on seven points at the top of the group following their 2-2 draw at St Andrews.
