APOEL exit Europa League with second defeat against Basel

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - ROUND OF 32 (LEG 2)

APOEL exited the UEFA Europa League at the Last 32 stage with a second successive loss to FC Basel, this time by a score of 1-0.

Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage with Go Greek TV!

APOEL completed their European journey with a 1-0 defeat from Basel at the St. Jakob Park. A journey that started with Paolo Tramezzani, Thomas Doll then took over managing to get the team into the Europa League group stages, subsequently laying down the foundations for qualification to the Round of 32. Loukas Hadjiloukas  concluded the group stages as interim coach, before current boss Marinos Ouzounidis couldn’t defeat Basel with a 3-0 home loss in the first leg proving decisive.

Taking into account the first-leg defeat, and the upcoming derby against Omonoia next Monday, Ouzounidis chose to give the chance to players with not much playing time so far. A penalty given by the video assistant referee (VAR) and converted by Fabian Frei in the first half gave the win to the hosts, and Tomas De Vincenti in the second half failed to convert a spot-kick of his own.

THE MATCH

Basel from the beginning and with the three-goal aggregate score in favor of them controlled the game, while APOEL looked to strike in the counter. 

In the 12th minute Kemal Ademi took advantage of a poor pass by Boy Waterman, however the Dutch keeper came up with the save to correct his mistake. Later on, Uros Matic sent over a corner kick, Vujadin Savic beat Djordje Nikolic in the air but his header went over the crossbar. 

Four minutes after that opportunity, Valentin Stocker was brought down by Nikolas Ioannou, and the referee after VAR review awarded a penalty. Frei sent Waterman the wrong way and opened the score for Basel.

Five minutes into the second half, almost grabbed a second on the night, but this time Frei fluffed his lines.

With 17 minutes remaining, APOEL had an ideal chance to equalise in the match, as oannou was brought down by Elis Isufi inside the penalty box. De Vincenti, though, sent the ball wide, a moment which rather summed up the tie for APOEL.

FC Basel (Marcel Koller): Djordje Nikolic (GK), Eray Comert, Samuele Campo, Valentin Stocker ©, Blas Riveros, Fabian Frei (Eric Ramires), Raoul Petretta (Edon Zhegrova), Taulant Xhaka, Emil Bergstrom, Elis Isufi, Kemal Ademi (Arthur Cabral)

APOEL (Marinos Ouzounidis): Boy Waterman (GK), Dragan Mihajlovic, Vujadin Savic, Giorgos Merkis, Nikolas Ioannou ©, Praxitelis Vouros, Mike Jensen, Uros Matic, Musa Al-Taamari (Andrija Pavlovic), Antonio Jakolis (Tomas De Vincenti), Stathis Aloneftis (Giorgos Efraim) 

By: Marios Antoniou

Image source: Sport FM Cyprus

Thank you for visiting AGONAsport.com, the only English based website for Greek sports fans across the world! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter for all the latest news in Greek Sports!