FC Basel beat Trabzonspor in the Round of 16 of the Conference League

Basel beat Trabzonspor 2-0 in an emotional match and are now in the Round of 16 of the Conference League. Amdouni and Zekiri allow FCB to celebrate.

It feels like an evening in the good old and successful times for FC Basel. The times when Basel dominated the domestic league also produced great moments on the European stage and caused the great teams of the continent to stumble. It was a 2-1 victory over Manchester United, which pushed Bayern to the round of 16 of the European Champions League at the expense of the English, 11 and a half years ago. Bayern coach at the time: Heiko Vogel.

Now the German has returned to the margins of Basel. on a temporary basis, but the 47-year-old appears to have recreated success on the European stage with his presence alone. Basel won the second leg of their 16th Conference League Final 2-0 against Trabzonspor, and after a 0-1 defeat a week earlier, proceeded to the Round of 16.

It’s a turning point that few believed Baselians were capable of, because joy, success and great moments have been so elusive on the knee of the Rhine lately. Not long ago, someone in town wondered if FCB would soon have to deal with a relegation battle. Promoted Winterthur looked very close to the bottom of the table, and you didn’t want to dream of YB and a possible attack at the top with a 20-point difference at times. And in the first leg in Trabzon, the Turkish champions outplayed Basler and failed to win 2-0 only due to an offside decision.

Also on Thursday’s second leg, referee Antonio Lahoz’s decisions came at the right moments alongside the Swiss delegate. For example, when he recovered his initial penalty kick shortly after the break after a tackle by Marwyn Hitz. Otherwise, Eastern Switzerland had a second chance to prove itself in a penalty shoot-out duel against Bayern. He didn’t even have to step in when Anastasios Bakasitas tried in the 27th minute, as the Greek playmaker shot wide.

It was one of those moments where Fortuna appeared dressed in red and blue. And the goddess of luck continued to give to the people of Basel later. When Stefano Denswil equalized after an hour, Lahoz decided to offside after studying the video, and when Umut Bozuk let several Turkish fans cheer again in St. Jacob’s Park, which was filled with 24,428 boisterous spectators, there was again an offside among the Turkish luck.

The Turkish fans cheered wildly – but the goal didn’t matter.Photo: Cornerstone

Bayern defended their lead, which Zaki Amdoni struck in the 13th minute after a long ball from Michael Lang and his fellow striker Andy Zekiri narrowly increased it in the 76th minute. So the deficit from the first leg was finally made up for, and with few warnings, Marwen Hitz was once again a decisive figure in the game. This new Basel moment of glory, which perhaps can be called a stellar moment because of the third-tier competition.

Either way, the European trip continues in the Round of 16. First at home on March 9, then a week later.

Basel 2-0 Trabzonspor (1-0)
24’428 spectators. SR Lahoz (Spain).
Portals: 13. Amdouni (long) 1-0. 76. Zakeri (Lopez) 2-0.
Basil: heat; Frye, Belmar, Lang, Belmar, Frye; Novoa (Ndwi 63), Zaka (male 63), Burger, Diouf, Kadi (Lopez 70); Amdouni, Zekiri (82. Adams).
Trabzonspor: cake. Styger Larsen (Elmali 82), Vitor Hugo (Peres 46), Bartra, Denswil; Haspolat (76 Yazici), Siopis (61 Bozok); Omur (82 Bardi), Bacasitas, Trezeguet; Gomez
comments: Basel without Comas and Augustin (both injured). 27. Bakasetas misses a penalty kick. 61. Denswil’s goal is ruled out by VAR for offside.
Warnings: 15. Haspolat. 29. Stryger Larsen. 50. Heat. 59. Shaka. 81- Al-Zakiri. 89- Nadwi.

(nih/sda)

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