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Viana targeting glory after Braga qualification

Hugo Viana scored the crucial goal to secure qualification for SC Braga from Group H and the midfielder insists last season's runners-up are now focusing on how far they can go.

Hugo Viana's strike was enough as Braga defeated Birmingham to qualify from Group H
Hugo Viana's strike was enough as Braga defeated Birmingham to qualify from Group H ©Getty Images

Match-winner Hugo Viana says his SC Braga side are now turning their minds to how far they can go in the UEFA Europa League after last season's runners-up confirmed qualification from Group H with a 1-0 home win against Birmingham City FC. If the Portuguese team can claim victory at Club Brugge KV in their final group game, there is a chance that Birmingham can follow Braga through to the knockout phase and midfielder Chris Burke is remaining hopeful.

Hugo Viana, Braga midfielder
I don't think we started very well. We were a bit nervous and anxious in the first half, perhaps due to a few poor recent results, but apart from the first 20 minutes and Quim's penalty save we deserved to win and probably should have scored more than one. We have achieved our first goal of qualifying from the group, now we will have time to think about how far we can go in the competition. I was lucky with my goal as it took a deflection, but, as I said, we could have scored more.

Alan, Braga forward
Tonight we showed all our qualities and showed we are a great team. We started a bit nervously but after that we calmed down and managed to control the game. Birmingham benefited from a penalty that fortunately Quim saved and after that we had control. It was a fair result. We created many chances but we fell short in front of goal. We had a little luck with the goal but we worked hard to deserve that luck.

Chris Burke, Birmingham midfielder
It think we played very well, especially in the first half, but in this kind of game you have to turn a good perfomance into a good result and that didn't happen. We are all very disappointed. It's tough, especially as we are aware that we could and should have got something out of it. You never know what might happen in this group and we have one more match ahead of us against Maribor. We are depending on others but you never know. Braga are a good team and you have to give credit to them.

 

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