Zoua earns Basel victory at ten-man Molde
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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Molde FK 0-1 FC Basel 1893
The visitors took advantage of Davy Claude Angan's first-half dismissal to edge in front in the tie courtesy of Jacques Zoua's 79th-minute effort.
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FC Basel 1893 are well placed to reach the UEFA Champions League play-offs after a 1-0 win at Molde FK in the first leg of their third qualifying round assignment.
Molde's task was made all the more difficult by the dismissal of Davy Claude Angan after just 27 minutes, but they remained on level terms until deep into the second half. Basel eventually prevailed by virtue of a 79th-minute goal from Jacques Zoua.
Heiko Vogel's side reached last season's UEFA Champions League round of 16 at the expense of Manchester United FC, and they were quick to assert their authority against Molde. Valentin Stocker shot wide from Marco Streller's knock-down after just ten minutes and Marcelo Díaz went close with a free-kick on the quarter-hour. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side had a first big chance of their own soon after, but Angan's surprise shot was well saved by Yann Sommer.
Angan was then dismissed, however, and the hosts once again found themselves on the back foot. Basel took charge in the second half and duly got the goal they were waiting for when Espen Bugge Pettersen parried Stocker's shot and Zoua gobbled up the rebound.
