Basel draw 1-1 at Benfica to keep hopes alive

Posted Thursday, November 03, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

* Benfica joint top with Man Utd

* Basel still in the race for knockout phase

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By Daniel Alvarenga

LISBON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - A second-half strike by Benjamin Huggel earned
Basel a 1-1 draw at Benfica on Wednesday that keeps the Champions League Group C
pot bubbling nicely with two rounds remaining.

Benfica and Manchester United, who beat Otelul Galati 2-0 at Old Trafford,
both have eight points, with Basel, who play the pointless Romanian group
whipping boys next, on five and still very much in the hunt for a last-16 place.

Benfica's next game is away to United, though they can expect to finish with
three points when they host Otelul in their final match.

Benfica burst out of the blocks with Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar running
at the Basel defence in the first minute to feed striker Rodrigo, whose shot was
tipped against the post by keeper Yann Sommer.

The Spaniard, selected ahead of Paraguay international Oscar Cardozo, didn't
waste his second chance three minutes later, firing in a half-volley into the
top right corner after a headed pass from Nicolas Gaitan.

Gaitan now boasts four assists in the Champions League and almost made
another decisive pass after 19 minutes with a pin-point cross that found
Ezequiel Garay unmarked in the area, but the Argentine defender's header flew
just wide of the goal.

Having won 2-0 in Switzerland last month, Benfica were looking good for the
double that would have all-but secured their last-16 spot but Basel gradually
came back into the match.

The visitors caused most danger from their right flank and it was from there
that they earned their first real chance after 32 minutes, when Fabian Frei sent
a header just wide after a cross by Jacques Zoua.

Benfica failed to turn their fluid play into a second goal and Basel grew in
confidence, coming close twice in the early stages of the second half before
equalising after 63 minutes in a rare left-sided move.

Scott Chipperfield made a run and squared for Huggel to slot it in cleanly
from 12 metres out.

Benfica almost regained their lead moments later when Belgian midfielder
Axel Witsel put Rodrigo through in the box, but the striker had a tight angle
and hit the side netting.