Freiburg beat Braga to reach maiden European final

UEFA Europa League

Freiburg (4) 3 - 1 (3) Sporting Braga FT

Lukas Kubler gave Freiburg the lead in Germany before netting the Bundesliga side's third of the night in the second half [Getty Images]

Freiburg are through to their first European final after beating 10-man Braga in Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Mario Dorgeles – scorer of the visitors' last-gasp winner in Portugal – was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Jan-Niklas Beste.

Freiburg soon made their numerical advantage count, taking the lead on the night when Jean-Baptiste Gorby's attempted clearance rebounded off Lukas Kubler's knee before trickling over the line via the inside of the far post.

The opening goal may have been slightly fortuitous, but there was nothing lucky about Yohan Manzambi's stunning second four minutes before half-time.

The 20-year-old midfielder worked space for a shot on the edge of the penalty area before curling an unstoppable right-footed drive into the far corner, sparking jubilant scenes among the home supporters at the Europa-Park Stadion.

Victor Gomez struck the woodwork after rounding Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu late in the first half, before Vincenzo Grifo was denied by the same post with a low drive early in the second.

Braga keeper Lukas Hornicek made a sensational double save to deny Igor Matanovic and Matthias Ginter with 20 minutes remaining, but the 23-year-old was powerless to prevent Kubler from extending Freiburg's lead with a towering header.