FC Basel - Vitoria Guimaraes LIVEBLOG and Intro

With a Dvd FC Basel’s coach Christian Gross hopes to encourage his side before tonight’s clash with Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes in the Third Qualifying Round.

No it’s not Goal! or The Miracle of Bern - it’s a Dvd of Basel’s epic 2002-2003 Champions’ League season - a season only 3 current players were part of: Chipperfield, Ergic and Huggel.

Following the unremarkable 0-0 draw in Portugal, Basel will have to be aware of the away goal risk which favours the visitors.

Christian Gross believes his side will need two goals to progress if they want to make history once more and grasp those 10 Million Francs that are awarded to the teams that qualify for the group stage. He believes that spot kicks will be the key to victory and the quality of young Stocker will be essential if Basel are to progress. 27,000 tickets have been sold - the St. Jakob will be quite noisy tonight!

Lineups:

FC Basel: Costanzo; Zanni, Abraham, Marque, Safari; Huggel; Carlitos, Ergic, Gelabert, Stocker; Derdiyok.

Vitoria Guimaraes: Nilson; Andrezinho, Amolin, Moreno, Luciano Amaral; Joao Alves, Flavio; Iubel, Fajardo, Desmarets; Douglas.

LIVEBLOG:

12th: GOAAALLLLL FOR BASEEELLLL!!!! It’s young Stocker who puts in the back of the net, courtesy of a pass by Ergic! 1-0 Basel!
14th: Oh no, penalty for Guimaraes. Fajardo scores, Costanzo only touches the ball. 1-1
21st: Yellow Card for Keeper Nilson.
27th: Yellow Card for Flavio
41st: Yellow for Joao Alves. It looks as if the Portuguese are settling for the score.
42nd: GREAT SAVE by Nilson. He looked beaten there.
44th: Yellow card for Huggel. What a surprise there!
3 minutes of added time
End of the first half: Gross might consider bringing on Chipperfield, Basel’s have to improve their game here.
Beginning of the second half. No changes.
46th: Yellow card for Marco Aurelio.
50th: Yellow for Safari. 4 Guimaraes players booked to Basel’s two.
52nd: EREN DERDIYOOOOOOKKKK!!!! BASEL LEAD AGAIN! 2-1 Great pass by Stocker! The two starlets of Switzerland have given Basel the lead!
54th: SUB, Felipe on for Marco Aurelio.
60th: SUB, Coral on for Alves.
63rd: So I thought it would be, SUB, Chipperfield on for Gelabert.
70th: SUB, Roberto on Fajardo.
73rd: Yellow for Moreno. A physical game by the Portuguese.
Not much to report, 6 minutes to go. Basel really needs to score a third, the tension is high here.
86th: INCREDIBLE! Vitoria’s 2-2 goal is disallowed for an offside! But there was no offside! How lucky for Basel!
90th: SUB, Ferati on for Ergic. 4 minutes of extra-time.
IT’S OVER!!! BASEL ENTER THE GROUP PHASE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT EPIC 2002-2003 SEASON!!!