Basel take narrow lead in UEFA Cup tie

FC Basel forward Jean-Michel Tschouga (right) slots away goal number two against Brann Bergen during Tuesday's UEFA Cup first round match Keystone

Basel needed a late goal to beat Brann Bergen of Norway 3-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first round tie.

Playing in Zurich on Tuesday evening, after the home leg was switched from Basel to the Hardturm stadium, the Swiss side took an early lead – with Feliciano Magro scoring the first goal in the seventh minute.

The Norwegians then drew even two minutes into the second half with a goal by Ove Ludvigsen. The 1-1 score wasn’t to last long, however, with Jean-Michel Tchouga sending the ball home for Basel six minutes later.

Less than 20 minutes later Norwegian striker, Thorstein Helstad, brought the visitors level once again but, with just four minutes remaining, Oliver Kreuzer scored the winning goal.

Three other Swiss teams face international competition this week in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round, with last year’s champions St Gallen having probably the hardest task – against Chelsea in London.

While the English side are clear favourites, St Gallen could take advantage of their opponents’ current disarray off the pitch. On Tuesday night Chelsea dismissed their manager, Gianluca Vialli, following a string of disappointing performances in the league (see swissinfo’s special preview).

Lausanne, meanwhile, are currently second in the Swiss league but have a difficult task at home to Torpedo Moscow in their first leg match.

The fourth Swiss team, FC Zurich, have been struggling in or around the relegation zone from the start of the season. They face KRC Genk of Belgium at home on Thursday.

The return matches will be played in two weeks’ time.

swissinfo with agencies