Basel draw United on Trafford

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Basel draw United on Trafford

FC Basel have climbed top of the group C in UEFA Champions League after drawing Manchester United 3-3 last night at the Old Trafford where the Swiss managed to overcome a two goal deficit thanks to Frei’s double.
Welbeck scored the first two goals within two minutes early in the first half, but the visitors leveled the score after one hour of play. A late goal from Ashley Young brought the Red Devils a hard earned point which sends the English side third in the group. Fabian Frei was the first to put danger on De Gea’s goal early in the fifth minute, following an impressive action developed by Streller who picked the striker inside the box from where Frei struck it just over the bar and into the stands.
Valencia was the first to miss a golden chance for Manchester in the ninth minute when the South American failed to head home a perfect cross from Young. Welbeck followed him with another big opportunity, following a unsure save from the keeper. Valencia picked Young in good position in the 14^th minute but the former Aston Villa star hit it straight at keeper Sommer.
Welbeck opened the score for the Red Devils in the 16^th minute following a lovely action on the right the finish of which saw Giggs feed the striker ten yards out to beat the keeper into the left hand far post. Even more than that, the newly arrived completed his double just one minute later following another impressive play on the left. Giggs picked the forward inside the box to beat the keeper on the near post with ease.
Basel broke back in the 22^nd minute through Alexander Frei who missed the target after being perfectly served by Streller. Zoua got his first big chance three minutes later. Fabian Frei picked the left midfielder on the edge of the box only to finish it wide. Fabian was the first to pick a yellow card as the referee cautioned the Swiss for kicking the ball away in the 35^th minute.
Alexander Frei was very close to scoring the first goal for the Swiss in the 36^th minute when Zoua and Streller’s one-two finished with a great pass for the forward who struck it just over the bar. Sommer hindered the hosts of a third goal in the 40^th minute when the Swiss’ keeper denied Valencia’s dangerous shot at the death.
The half time went 2-0 but the game was far from being over. Five minutes into the second part, De Gea blocked Streller’s shot to keep the sheet clean for longer. Sommer than saved his side from another potential disaster, following a great play from Valencia and Giggs who failed to beat the keeper. But the 57^th minute saw Fabian Frei score an important goal for the away side. Basel won a corner on the left which the United defence failed to clear, allowing the striker to put it home with a superb volley into the right hand post.
Just a couple of minutes later Alexander Frei headed it home past De Gea to bring an unexpected leveler for Thorsten Fink’s side. Manchester were without Wayne Rooney as Sir Alex Ferguson preferred Giggs and Welbeck for Berbatov and Hernandez.
Park replaced Giggs in the 61^st minute as Ferguson was switching his focus on attack. Nani also entered the pitch in the 68^th minute, replacing Fabio in the back. Xhaka conceded a first yellow card with 20 minutes left in the game for a foul on Young. Basel stunned the favorites with a leader in the 75^th minute. The Swiss were gifted a penalty following Jones’s foul on Streller inside the box. Alexander Frei beat De Gea as Basel were heading towards a huge victory on Old Trafford.
Basel made their last couple of changes in the 80^th minute when they introduced Scott Chipperfield and Kwang Ryon Pak for Fabian Frei and Streller respectively. Ferguson then introduced Berbatov for Anderson in a desperate attempt to grab at least one point. With two minutes left in the second half, Young leveled the score with a tremendous header into the near post, action which followed Nani’s superb long cross form the right.
Basel remain unbeaten so far this group stage and lead the table with four points. Manchester Untied are third with two points having Benfica two points above them. Romanian champions Otelu Galati lie foot of the table with zero points.
Said Ferguson after the game: “We were fortunate not to have lost a couple of goals before half-time. Equally though we could have scored four or five. We said to the players at half-time you can make this game easy or hard for yourselves. And we made it hard. The attacking instinct in the team meant we got really exposed in midfield and at the back.”
Basel will next host Benfica on October 18 on Sankt Jakob Park, while Untied travel to Galati the same day.
Manchester United – De Gea; Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Fabio; Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Young; Giggs, Welbeck. Reserves: M. Diuof, M. Owen, D. Berbatov, D. Fletcher, Nani, A. Lindegaard, J. Park.
FC Basel – Sommer; Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, Park; Frei, Xhaka, Cabral, Zoua; Frei, Streller. Reserves: K. Pak, A. Ajeti, T. Xhaka, S. Chipperfield, P. Schurpf, R. Kovac, M. Colomba.

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