Basel battle back from the brink
Thursday, December 1, 2005
Article summary
FC Basel 1893 4-3 Tromsø IL
The Swiss side rallied from 3-1 down to secure an unlikely win to move second, while eliminating Tromsø.
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Remarkable rally
The Norwegian Tippeligaen outfit had looked good for their 3-1 lead at the break after two goals from Lars Iver Strand and one from Ole Martin Årst. Mladen Petrić had scored for Basel, but in the second half, goals from Matías Delgado, Scott Chipperfield and David Degen won it for the home side.
Early breakthrough
Tromsø had gone ahead as early as the second minute when Strand headed in Ole Andreas Nilsen's cross. Basel attempted to respond and came close a minute later, only for Eduardo to head over, while 60 seconds later Matías Delgado also shot wide.
Rapid response
The Swiss Super League side eventually restored parity after 16 minutes when Petrić fired in a left-footed shot after Boris Smiljanic had headed Patrick Müller's free-kick into his path. However, Tromsø regained their lead three minutes later when Årst collected Joachim Walltin's pass before hitting an angled shot into the net from 12 metres.
Strand strikes
Visiting goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld did well to keep his team's advantage intact, saving from Eduardo, before the visitors opened up a 3-1 lead just before the half-hour mark. This time Årst was the provider, playing the ball from the right for Strand to score his second of the evening. Eduardo and Delgado could have reduced the deficit before the interval, but they both proved wayward with their finishing.
Scores leveled
Basel piled on the pressure in the second period but were almost caught out when Patrice Bernier's header forced a save from Pascal Zuberbühler. Delgado reduced arrears when he converted a cross from Petrić just after the hour and it was all-square six minutes later when Chipperfield headed in a Julio Rossi cross.
Unlikely winner
With 16 minutes remaining, Christian Gross's side took the lead for the first time as Degen collected an Eduardo pass and scored from close range. Rossi then created a chance for Eduardo who volleyed over but it mattered little Basel went on to secure the most unlikely of wins to move into second place in the standings.
