Basel still have it all to do

Goal hero Ivan Ergic admitted that FC Basel will still find it hard to finish second in UEFA Champions League Group B despite his late equaliser in their 2-2 home draw against Valencia CF tonight.

Rivals victorious
Basel are third in the group standings on five points from four matches, but lost ground on rivals Liverpool FC who moved two points clear of the Swiss side after a convincing 3-1 win against FC Spartak Moskva in the Russian capital. Ergic had given Basel a deserved lead after 32 minutes but had to score in added time to salvage a valuable point after Rubén Baraja and Curro Torres turned the match in the Spaniards' favour.

'Good job'
"Of course, I am happy to have scored twice, but more importantly the team has done a good job tonight," the Yugoslavian midfield player said. "It will still be difficult for us to finish second, especially after Liverpool won in Moscow. But we will travel to Moscow and hope to win, despite unfavourable weather conditions there."

'Risk everything'
Having succumbed to a 6-2 mauling at the Mestalla in the reverse fixture three weeks ago, Basel coach Christian Gross was delighted by they way his troops raised their game in front of the home support. "After finding ourselves behind, we had to risk everything," he said. "We were taking risks against a strong team, but it paid off. Ergic did a fantastic job - two goals in the Champions League against such a team is excellent for him."

'Kept our concentration'
Valencia coach Rafael Benítez was left to rue his side's luck after watching the late drama unfold at the Saint Jakob stadium, especially following defender Roberto Ayala's 88th-minute sending-off. "We kept our concentration and played a good match on the whole, until that red card for Ayala," Benítez said.

'Credit Basel'
Defender Mauricio Pellegrino echoed his coach's sentiments, but also paid tribute to Basel. "The team did well, we did the right things in each phase of the game," he said. "But you have to credit Basel for the pressure they put us under. They had the support of a crowd who pushed them on, which made them stronger than they were in the Mestalla."

'Decide our future'
Despite his joy at securing what may prove to be an invaluable point against the Spanish champions, Gross was keen not to get carried away by the draw. "That was a precious point we gained today," he said. "But the next two games will decide our future."

Moscow mission
Basel's remaining two Group B matches see them travel to Moscow to face Spartak, before Liverpool visit the Saint Jakob stadium on Matchday Six. Unbeaten at home so far, and with only one defeat in four matches, the Swiss side may yet have reason to be confident of a place in the second group stage.

On the brink
Valencia on the other hand top the group with ten points. Benítez's side have scored 13 goals in their four games and know that victory over Liverpool in England next week will guarantee their place in the next stage.