A 1-0 defeat to Braga in Portugal means that Birmingham City’s Europa League fate is now out of their hands.
Former Newcastle United man Hugo Viana’s deflected shot resulted in the only goal of the game at Estadio Municipal de Braga, and ensured that 2011 runners-up Braga have secured their place in the last 32.
They and Brugges, who produced a stunning comeback to win 4-3 against Maribor with all four goals coming in the final 16 minutes, are both level on ten points with Birmingham having seven.
Chris Hughton’s men have been beaten twice by Braga so cannot finish ahead of them, but if they and Braga win in the final round of games then they will leapfrog Brugges into second place. A draw between Brugges and Braga, or a win for the Belgians, would definitely see Birmingham out even if they beat Maribor at St Andrews on December 15.
The Blues missed a great chance to go in front early on when Ewerton hauled Wade Elliott down to concede a penalty. The Braga man was only booked and his side were further relieved when Nikola Zigic’s tame penalty was kept out by Quim.
Ewerton avoided a second yellow card when grounding Chris Burke outside the area, with Steven Caldwell seeing a header denied by Quim before Braga began to take command.
Mossoro (twice) had chances for them before the interval, but it was scoreless as the teams switched ends.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 51st minute. Viana took up possession 30 yards from goal and decided to have a crack. His shot was low and took a wicked deflection off of Curtis Davies to beat Boaz Myhill and find the former Hull goalkeeper’s bottom corner.
David Murphy’s cross was headed over by Zigic before, at the other end, Myhill denied Rodrigo Lima late on.