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CFR Cluj got their Champions League campaign off to a great start in Romania tonight as they overcame visiting Swiss side FC Basel 2-1. Two early goals from the home side looked like the game was dead and buried, but a Valentin Stocker strike just before half-time gave the visitors some hope. However, the comeback was never completed and the hosts picked up all three points in Group E. Yssouf Kone would not make an appearance for the hosts tonight after picking up a knee injury that may keep him out for a few months. Sasa Bjelanovic also missed out through injury. Jacques Zoua didn't feature after picking up a knock while on international duty, although there was some good news for Basel as Valentine Stocker overcame an ankle problem to make the first XI. It was all systems go from the beginning at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu tonight as both sides fought to assert their dominance on the match. The Swiss contingent were the first to threaten as Stocker picked up a clever through-ball, but blazed his shot wide. The Romanians were not taking the early punishment lying down though, and quickly showed Basel whose house they were in as Ionut Rada put the hosts in front with a delightful header after only nine minutes. Juan Emmanuel Culio delivered the cross to an unmarked Rada in the penalty box who had nothing left to do but nod home and give Cluj an early lead. Stocker looked lively again after kick-off, immediately seeking an equaliser that would get his side back in the game. However, the midfielder's tenacity wasn't rewarded and less than five minutes after their first Cluj notched up a second through Lacina Traore. It was Culio again with yet another pin-point cross that left the forward with only six yards to make up to give his side a two goal lead. The game looked as though the hosts had it by the scruff of the neck while Basel recoiled from the early goal, Cluj looking comfortable enough for long periods as the Swiss tried to pull themselves together. And they did just that with Stocker and Huggel both going close for the visitors. Basel's spirit paid dividends just before the break, as pressure from Samuel Inkoom was enough to win a corner in first-half injury time. Frei swung the ball in, finding Valentin Stocker at the front post, who duly nodded past Nuno Claro to half the deficit and give the visitors a great boost heading in to the dressing rooms. Traore, who had faded away as the first-half wore on, looked a lot brighter as the second period got under way. Two great attempts just after the restart gave him the confidence to go for a third, taking on four defenders before he was finally pick-pocketed and the ball sent up to Shaqiri who wasted his final shot. Basel had an incredible chance on 57 minutes to bring the score back to level pegging, but somehow the ball was kept out. Frei was the culprit this time, blasting towards goal after Claro spilled a cross. The big striker's shot smacked right off the head of Gabriel Muresan, who did enough to keep the venomous strike from shaking the net. Cluj were next to go close, substitutes Emmanuel Kone and Roberto De Zerbi linking up well to pose the threat. De Zerbi slid the ball through to his partner in crime who rather unfortunately slipped as the ball arrived at him. With Franco Constanzo off his line, the Ivorian had only to shoot, but Basel were able to regain possession before the midfielder regained his balance. Aside from a Scott Chipperfield header that almost brought the sides even, it was a late free kick won just outside the area that gave Basel the most hope of an equaliser. Shaqiri stood over the set-piece, but his shot ricocheted off the wall and out to safety, signalling a failed comeback and a full three points in the bag for the hosts. |
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