Hernández penalty earns Real Betis a 1-1 draw with Braga in Europa League quarterfinals

News > Sports News

Betis' Cucho Hernandez celebrates with teammate Antony after scoring his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Betis' Cucho Hernandez celebrates with teammate Antony after scoring his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Betis' Cucho Hernandez celebrates after scoring his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Betis' Cucho Hernandez celebrates after scoring his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Florian Grillitsch, center, scores the opening goal with a heel kick past Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Florian Grillitsch, center, scores the opening goal with a heel kick past Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Jean-Baptiste Gorby, on the ground, fouls Braga's Rodrigo Zalazar in the box to give away a penalty shot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Jean-Baptiste Gorby, on the ground, fouls Braga's Rodrigo Zalazar in the box to give away a penalty shot during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Florian Grillitsch, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's Florian Grillitsch, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SC Braga and Real Betis in Braga, Portugal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

3:46 PM on Wednesday, April 8

The Associated Press

BRAGA, Portugal (AP) — Cucho Hernández converted a penalty for Real Betis to salvage a 1-1 draw with Braga in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Before the kickoff, players and fans observed a moment of silence to honor Mircea Lucescu, the Romanian soccer great who died this week.

Hernández beat Lukáš Horníček from the spot in the 61st minute after the goalkeeper had saved the Colombia striker's header in the first half.

Florian Grillitsch put the hosts up 1-0 early with a heel shot off a corner kick in what UEFA said is a record 98th game for Braga in Europe's second-tier competition.

Braga is seeking a semifinal for the first time since 2011 when the Portuguese club reached the final.

The other three quarterfinal matches will be played Thursday: Aston Villa at Bologna; Nottingham Forest at Porto; and Freiburg hosts Celta Vigo.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

This content is used here with permission. To view the original visit: https://apnews.com/article/europa-league-quarterfinals-braga-real-betis-44d4958b6c179ac244bf67bcfdf08916
 

You might also be interested in:

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

  • The American Adversaries with Christopher Hart and Company
    5:00PM - 7:00PM
     
    The Titans of Talk Radio The Voice to be Reckoned With “Political, Professional   >>
     
  • Talkin Old School with Roger Franklin Williams
    7:00PM - 8:00PM
     
    Talkin Old School with Roger Franklin Williams
     
  • The Larry Elder Show
    8:00PM - 10:00PM
     
    Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from   >>
     
  • The Scott Jennings Show
    10:00PM - 12:00AM
     
    Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential   >>
     
  • The Mike Gallagher Show
    12:00AM - 3:00AM
     
    Trump Agrees to Two-Week Cease-Fire With Iran if Hormuz Re-Opened A Tale of Two   >>
     

See the Full Program Guide