FUNCHAL, Portugal (Interstat) — Miguel Baeza scored in the 19th minute and Nacional made that goal stand for a 1-0 victory over Braga at Estádio da Madeira on Sunday. Baeza finished with one goal in 86 minutes, and Song Min-Kyu recorded one assist over 68 minutes as Nacional handed Braga another loss in the competition. The home side defended its narrow lead through a tense second half and survived late yellow cards and a series of Braga substitutions. Nacional improved to 1-1 in the competition and 1-2 across all competitions. Braga dropped to 0-3 in the competition and 1-4 across all competitions. The win was Nacional’s first in the competition.

The decisive moment came in the 19th minute when Baeza found the net for Nacional. Song supplied the assist, giving the home side the only goal it would need. Nacional’s lead changed the shape of the match and forced Braga to chase an equalizer for more than 70 minutes. Braga could not convert its pressure into a goal. Nacional’s defense held firm, and Braga’s attacking changes did not produce the breakthrough. The goal was the only scoring play of the match, and Braga’s substitutions gave it fresh legs but not an equalizer.

Nacional carried the 1-0 lead into halftime. Nacional did not make a substitution until the 68th minute, keeping its shape as Braga searched for a response. The second half brought a steady flow of changes from both benches.

Braga made three changes at halftime, bringing on Gabriel Silva, Marques T. and Gorby. Milosevic J. entered in the 62nd minute as Braga sought more from its bench. Nacional responded with changes of its own, as Jensen M. and Song Min-Kyu were involved in a 68th-minute swap. Braga made another change in the 76th minute when Arrey-Mbi B. came on. Nacional then made two changes in the 78th minute, with Labidi C. and Njoya A. entering. Baeza, the scorer, was replaced in the 86th minute. The changes gave both sides fresh legs for the closing half-hour, but neither team added another goal.

Discipline became a factor as the match wore on. Goncalves C. of Nacional received a yellow card in the 33rd minute. Braga’s Sergio Barcia was booked in the 79th minute. Nacional’s Gavriel S. was cautioned in the 86th minute, and Braga’s Lagerbielke G. received a yellow card in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. The cards added to the stop-start nature of the closing stages, but Nacional protected its lead. The late bookings reflected the growing tension as Braga pressed for an equalizer.

Nacional’s victory gave it a second result in the competition and a lift after recent setbacks. Nacional had lost its previous two matches, falling to Sanjoanense and Rio Ave. The home side’s win ended a run of two straight defeats. Braga’s competition record remained without a win, and its overall record slipped further below .500. Braga had beaten Gent in its previous match but had also lost recently to Gil Vicente, FC Copenhagen and Sporting CP. The visitor pushed numbers forward late, but the final pass and finish were missing. Nacional’s back line and midfield limited clear chances and kept Braga from canceling Baeza’s early goal. The home side’s ability to hold the lead proved decisive in a match short on goals but filled with second-half changes and late tension.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Braga 2, Nacional 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Braga with a 78.8 percent probability to win. Braga had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.