Europa League: Chelsea beat Basel as Fenerbahce edge Benfica
David Luiz fired in a last-second free-kick to give Chelsea a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at Basel.
Chelsea took an early lead through Victor Moses in a first half they controlled, but Basel fought back in the latter stages and were awarded a soft penalty by Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, which Fabian Schaer converted.
Basel have proved a force both domestically and in Europe on home turf this season and sought to immediately take the initiative, but despite their dominance of the early possession Chelsea looked a potent force on the counterattack.
Chelsea, Champions League winners for the first time in 2012, made a tame defence of their continental trophy earlier in the season, exiting in the group stage, but have found the Europa League more to their liking.
The Premier League side appeared to have been denied victory by Basel, cheered on by Swiss tennis great Roger Federer in his hometown, when Fabian Schaer struck an 87th-minute penalty past Petr Cech to cancel out Victor Moses's 12th-minute header.
But four minutes into stoppage time Luiz struck a low freekick that keeper Yann Sommer could only help into the net.
Buy Europa League tickets and Europa League Final tickets securely online now!!
Fenerbahce 1-0 Benfica
Egemen Korkmaz headed a controversial second-half winner as Fenerbahce secured a narrow 1-0 lead in their Europa League semi-final first-leg clash with Benfica in Turkey.
The defender powered home in the 72nd minute after Lorenzo Melgarejo had inadvertently nodded a left-wing corner back across the face of his own goal.
It was an incident that left the Portuguese side furious as the decisive moment came from a set piece that should have seen the away team awarded a goal kick.
Despite the fortune, the victory was no less than Fenerbahce deserved as they rattled the woodwork on no fewer than three occasions.
About 1st4FootballTickets.com: Thousands of football tickets are on sale on Europe's biggest football ticketing website: We have Premier League tickets available such as Chelsea FC tickets, Newcastle United tickets and Tottenham football tickets. Last but not least we also have FA Cup 2013 Final tickets available.
Chelsea took an early lead through Victor Moses in a first half they controlled, but Basel fought back in the latter stages and were awarded a soft penalty by Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, which Fabian Schaer converted.
Basel have proved a force both domestically and in Europe on home turf this season and sought to immediately take the initiative, but despite their dominance of the early possession Chelsea looked a potent force on the counterattack.
Chelsea, Champions League winners for the first time in 2012, made a tame defence of their continental trophy earlier in the season, exiting in the group stage, but have found the Europa League more to their liking.
The Premier League side appeared to have been denied victory by Basel, cheered on by Swiss tennis great Roger Federer in his hometown, when Fabian Schaer struck an 87th-minute penalty past Petr Cech to cancel out Victor Moses's 12th-minute header.
But four minutes into stoppage time Luiz struck a low freekick that keeper Yann Sommer could only help into the net.
Buy Europa League tickets and Europa League Final tickets securely online now!!
Fenerbahce 1-0 Benfica
Egemen Korkmaz headed a controversial second-half winner as Fenerbahce secured a narrow 1-0 lead in their Europa League semi-final first-leg clash with Benfica in Turkey.
The defender powered home in the 72nd minute after Lorenzo Melgarejo had inadvertently nodded a left-wing corner back across the face of his own goal.
It was an incident that left the Portuguese side furious as the decisive moment came from a set piece that should have seen the away team awarded a goal kick.
Despite the fortune, the victory was no less than Fenerbahce deserved as they rattled the woodwork on no fewer than three occasions.
About 1st4FootballTickets.com: Thousands of football tickets are on sale on Europe's biggest football ticketing website: We have Premier League tickets available such as Chelsea FC tickets, Newcastle United tickets and Tottenham football tickets. Last but not least we also have FA Cup 2013 Final tickets available.
