Basel produce Christmas miracle
FC Basel pulled off a historic victory on Wednesday night, knocking English football giants Manchester United out of the Champions League.
Basel’s 2:1 victory at home saw three-time European champion Manchester United exit the championship in the group stage. A draw would have been enough to take them into the knockout rounds.
Goals from captain Marco Streller and striker Alex Frei ensured the English side’s humiliation and Basel’s place in the last 16.
“Today is Christmas!” trumpeted the mass-circulation Blick newspaper. “The miracle of St Jakob stadium! Frei and Streller give Switzerland the present of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.”
“FC Basel pull off probably the greatest sensation in Swiss football history. Bye bye Rooney! Bye bye Man U!”
The Basel-based Basler Zeitung was equally jubilant, echoing almost the exact words of the Blick in a front-page article entitled “The miracle of Joggeli [St Jakob’s Park]”.
“By 22.38 the sensation had been achieved… 35,000 Basel fans in the sold-out St Jakob’s Park were euphoric, the 1,000 United supporters bewildered. Afterwards Basel city erupted in a noisy football party.”
“I can just beam with pride,” Basel coach Heiko Vogel said in comments quoted by the Associated Press. “Tactically, mentally, physically, everything just worked right.”
“We’re disappointed, there’s no other way you can feel,” said United manager Alex Ferguson. “We were careless,” Ferguson said, “We let ourselves down badly.”
Last 16
Captain Marco Streller scored in the ninth minute, pouncing on United goalkeeper David de Gea’s error, and forward partner Alex Frei struck in the 84th.
United responded with a goal from Phil Jones in the 89th, taking the score to 2:1.
Basel, led by their novice interim coach, join group winner Benfica among Europe’s elite in the last-16 draw next week.
The match on a cold night and rain-soaked pitch, began well for the Swiss. Basel’s hottest young prospect Xherdan Shaqiri troubled the visitors with a long dribble before he created the opening goal in the ninth minute.
A memorable Swiss victory appeared sealed in the 84th minute when Frei stooped to head home a bouncing ball at the back post.
Jones gave United some hope when he sent the ball just over the line in the 89th minute.
Basel still had to endure the uncertainty of extra time and the fear that United would equalise. But the English side failed to pull off a miracle of their own.
11 men – the precise number required to form a football team – turned up in response to an 1893 newspaper ad suggesting the launch of a new club.
A few more soon joined, and within a week they hit the field to practise. FC Basel played its first official match in Strasbourg, France, about six months later, losing 0:8 to Alsace.
FC Basel have distinguished themselves a number of times in their 118-year history.
They have won:
13 Swiss championships
10 Cups
3 Alpencups
1 League cup
They have made it to the finals of:
6 Cups
1 UI Cup
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