Europa League standings – Basel fell sharply against Famagusta, but is in the playoffs – sport

• FC Basel beat Anorthosis Famagusta 3-2 at home in the Europa League third qualifying round.
• After 21 minutes, FCB went ahead 3-0, but then stopped playing football and let the Cypriots get back into play.
• Basel still has an obstacle to overcome: in the playoffs there will be a duel with CSKA Sofia on October 1.
• On the other hand, St. Gallen is eliminated. The eastern Swiss fail at AEK Athens.

Ciriaco Sforza will not be without work in the next few days. Just as FCB acted against Famagusta before the break, the performance after the break was just as bad. The relief was equally great when he finished after 94 minutes at St. Jakob-Park.

Basel have moved one step closer to the group stage of the Europa League. In the playoffs on October 1, Rheinstadt’s team will also compete at home with CSKA Sofia.

Joy of playing and goals at half-time 1

After a good start for the Basel team, there was absolutely nothing to indicate that the FCB would be looking forward to the final whistle in the finals. The guests from Cyprus seemed to stand no chance and were arriving again and again at least one step too late. That allowed the hosts 3 early goals:

• 4. Minute: After a set piece by Samuele Campo, defender Silvan Widmer reacts faster and volleys the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
• 12. Minute: Campo benefits from a bad pass in the Famagusta playing structure and shoots from a good 20 meters. Goalkeeper Giorgi Loria is still there with the tips of his fingers, but he cannot avoid the impact.
• 21. Minute: After a rebound from Loria, the Cypriot defender and goalkeeper get in the way. Unfortunately for Famagusta, the ball crosses the line in a mocking way. Hovhanne Hambartsumyan’s own goal to make it 3-0.

Subsequently, FCB also had control of the situation and did not allow too much. All the more annoying that Famagusta practically reached 1: 3 at the half-time whistle. Sebastian Pingel had hit with a good shot from the corner.

Negligence and tremors at rest 2

After the break, the FCB did not start. On the contrary: although Sforza’s team was able to act excessively from minute 50, Basel conceded the next goal after a penalty (67). The penalty should not have been given because Basel’s Andrea Padula fouled outside the penalty area.

It was no longer really dangerous for FCB in the final minutes. Whether Basel can afford such a drop in performance against CSKA Sofia is at least doubtful.