Luiz strikes late to stun Basel

Brazilian scores in injury time to help Chelsea edge hosts 2-1; Fenerbahce win

 David Luiz, lucky to be on the pitch after a shocking challenge, scored with the last kick of the game to give Chelsea a 2-1 win at FC Basel in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal after the Swiss side had levelled with an 87th minute penalty on Thursday.

Victor Moses gave Chelsea a 12th minute lead with a soft goal but Basel, after an uncertain opening, fought back well after the break and looked to have grabbed a deserved draw until the Brazilian curled in a free kick from 25 metres in the fourth minute of injury time.

The goal silenced a raucous St Jakob Park which was still celebrating Fabian Schaer’s penalty for the hosts, who are aiming to become the first Swiss side to reach a European final.

However, David Luiz was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a studs-up challenge on Philipp Degen late in the game. Schaer was also fortunate not to be dismissed for a late tackle on Eden Hazard.

Basel, playing their 19th match of a marathon European campaign which started away to Estonia’s Flora Tallinn in the Champions League second qualifying round in mid-July, have beaten Manchester United and Bayern Munich at home in the last 18 months.
But the English Premier League side got the start they needed following a Frank Lampard corner.

Branislav Ivanovic leapt and missed the ball, distracting the defence, and Moses immediately behind him, scored with a downward header which bounced and rose into the top of the net and should have been cleared by Mohamed Elneny on the line.
It was his fourth European goal of the season.

Valentin Stocker nearly levelled for Basel early in the second half as he exchanged passes with Marco Streller and evaded Lampard only to see his effort hit the foot of the post.
Chelsea replied when Fernando Torres, wearing his ‘Mask of Zorro’ to protect a broken nose, smashed a left foot shot against the post after Hazard survived a reckless challenge by Schaer and pulled the ball back.

Chelsea survived several scares as Basel dominated the final half hour and the hosts levelled when Cezar Azpilicueta was controversially judged to have fouled Stocker.
Schaer stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty and the Basel hardcore fans behind goal celebrated with pyrotechnics. Both teams went for the winner and before David Luiz struck to give Chelsea a potenitally decisive lead for next week's second leg.

Korkmaz sparkles

Egemen Korkmaz’s second-half header earned Fenerbahce a 1-0 win in the first leg against Benfica in Istanbul and eased the tears of team-mate Cristian.

The Turkish club hit the woodwork three times including Cristian’s penalty which thudded against the post on the stroke of halftime, reducing the Brazilian to tears.

Luckily for the midfielder, Korkmaz made the breakthrough after 72 minutes with a header that also glanced the frame of the goal before landing narrowly over the line.

It proved enough to put Fenerbahce tantalisingly close to their first European final although Benfica will be formidable opponents in next week's return in Lisbon.

Roared on by a raucous crowd in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Fenerbahce played at a high tempo from the start as Benfica struggled to settle into their stride.

Moussa Sow, who will miss the second leg after receiving a yellow card, struck the crossbar and Fenerbahce maintained the pressure. When Ola John clipped the trailing leg of Gokhan Gonul just before halftime Fenerbahce were awarded a penalty but Cristian failed to convert it.

When former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt also hit the post in the second half it looked like being a frustrating night for the home side but Korkmaz raised the roof when he finally broke the deadlock after a poor defensive header.