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After cheering from the beginning, FCB made it unnecessarily exciting. Image: keystone
Basel shakes in playoffs – St. Gallen is eliminated against AEK Athens
Basel – Anorthosis Famagusta 3: 2
FC Basel qualified for the Europa League playoffs with more effort than necessary. Ciriaco Sforza’s side beat Cypriot Anorthosis Famagusta after a 3-0 lead at 3-2 and now play CSKA Sofia for a place in the group stage.
Widmer dueling Correia of Famagusta. Image: keystone
After a quarter-match in the nearly empty St. Jakob-Park, FC Basel’s victory seemed like a mere formality. Silvan Widmer made it 1-0 in just over three minutes with a shot from the turn into the penalty area. And before the first quarter of an hour was over, Samuele Campo, who had been at the origin of the first goal with his free kick, increased it to 2-0 with a nice long shot. The Cypriots capped their completely unsuccessful start in the 21st minute with an own goal following a goalkeeper error.
Basel didn’t have to do much for the clear 3-0 intermediate result. A focused and efficient presentation was enough. Concentration and confidence were lost before the break. Without playing prominently, the guests shortened Branko Vrgoc seconds before the break and Giorgi Kvilitaia, who took advantage of a penalty provoked by Andrea Padula in the 66th minute. In the 50th minute, he pressed Anorthosis in vain for the third goal. Basel also finished the game with one less player. The young man, after an hour as a substitute, Julian von Moos saw the yellow-red card in the 88th minute.
FC Basel will have to take the last step towards the group stage of the Europa League next Thursday. Again, the decision will be made in a single match and Basler’s team will be able to play at home again. The opponent should be a bit stronger than Anorthosis Famagusta. Bulgaria’s record champion CSKA Sofia finished third in their national championship last season. In the third qualifying round, the Bulgarians beat Torshavn of the Faroe Islands 3-1.
SR Petrescu (ROU). – Tore: 4. Widmer 1-0. 12. Field 2-0. 21. Hambardzumjan 3-0. 45. Vrgoc 3: 1. 67. Kwilitaia (foul penalty) 3: 2.
Basel: Nikolic; Widmer, Cömert, Alderete, Padula; Stocker (76º Oberlin), Frei, Campo (85º van der Werff), Pululu (60º von Moos); van Wolfswinkel, Cabral.
Famagusta Anorthosis: Loria; Hambardzumjan, Schildenfeld, Vrgoc, Selin (78. Galitsios); Artymatas, Margaça (61. Micha), Dauschwili; Okriaschwili, Kwilitaia, Anderson Correia (46. Christofi).
Observations: Basel without Xhaka, Petretta, Zuffi and Marchand (all injured). The game unfolded without spectators. 50th yellow-red card against Okriaschwili (swallow). 88. Yellow and red card against von Moos (foul). Warnings: 18. Widmer (missing). 27. Alderete (unsportsmanlike conduct). 33. Okriashvili (foul). 61st von Moos (missing). 66 Padula (foul). 67 Hambardzumjan (foul). 84. Kwilitaia (unsportsmanlike conduct). 86. Nikolic (unsportsmanlike conduct).
St. Gallen – AEK Athens 0: 1
The decision: Oliveira defeats Zigi on the sidelines. Image: keystone
SR Hernandez (ESP). – Hill: 71. Oliveira (penalty margin) 0: 1.
St. Gallen: Zigi; Kräuchi, Stergiou, Fazliji, Muheim; Limerick; Görtler, Stillhart (74. Youan), Ruiz (74. Ribeiro); Duah (62. Kamberi), Guillemenot.
AEK Athens: Tsintotas; Vasilantonopoulos, Tschygrynsky, Svarnas, Insua; Simoes, Mantalos, Krsticic; Ansarifard (68. García), Oliveira, Livaja (90. Schachow).
Observations: San Galo without González and Lüchinger (both injured) and Babic (convalescent). Athens without heroes (suspended). Warnings: 31. Muheim, 35. Liaja, 45. Mantalos, 50. Krsticic, 51. Fazliji (all fouls). Game without spectators. Red card against Görtler after the match. (ram / sda)
