Disillusion for FC Basel, Shakthar wins 2-1

Chances are that it won’t be the same glorious campaign as 6 years ago for FC Basel – an early home defeat to Shakthar appears to compromise the possibilities of the Swiss Champions not so much for the score, rather for the way Basel played: the team was entirely absent from the pitch.

In a fortnight’s time FC Basel will be condemned to avoid defeat at Sporting Lisbon so as to be entitled to believe in their chances.

Yet can a team, that has to wait for the 79th minute to have its first chance to score against the 7th team in the current Ukrainian standings, believe in qualifying from such a tight group?

The absence of Ergic meant that Basel didn’t have a leader in midfield and the team didn’t appear to be psychologically ready for the game. Despite some early good interventions, keeper Costanzo was troubled by the Ukrainian free kicks and logically Shakhtar went up 2-0 through goals by Fernandinho and Jadson. Yet the fouls that led to these free kicks were not so apparent in the replays – some regrets for the Swiss Champions!
With a 41% ball possession and no shots on goal at all, it was clear that Basel did deserve the score.

Some early changes in the second half saw Mustafi, Eduardo and Rubio come in for Stocker, Derdiyok and Gelabert and Basel started putting some more pressure on the Donetsk defence. Rubio had a good opportunity at the 79th minute but the goal only came at the 92nd with the desperation of Abraham acrobatically sending the ball in the back of the net on a Carlitos cross.
Yet there was no time left and Shakhtar won the game.

We can only hope that the first game will have broken the ice for Basel and that with Ergic back on the pitch they will be able to show their best in Lisbon in 15 days.

Basel – Shakhtar Donetsk 1:2 (0:2)
St.-Jakob-Park. – 34 820 Spectators – Referee Hauge (Nor).
Goals: 25. Fernandinho 0:1. 45. Jadson 0:2. 93. Abraham 1:2.
Basel: Costanzo; Zanni, Abraham, Marque, Hodel; Gelabert (64. Rubio), Hodel; Carlitos, Chipperfield, Stocker (46. Mustafi); Derdiyok (46. Eduardo).
Shakhtar Donetsk: Piatow; Srna, Kutscher, Tschygrynski, Schewtschuk; Fernandinho (83. Fedezki), Hübschman; Ilsinho (66. Willian), Jadson, Brandão; Luiz Adriano (75. Selesnow).