Clinical Videoton pick off Basel

Videoton FC made it back-to-back wins in UEFA Europa League Group G with a defeat of FC Basel 1893.

As they emphatically proved against Sporting Club de Portugal on matchday two, Videoton are formidable at home and extended their unbeaten European run in Szekesfehervar to nine matches courtesy of two first-half goals.

The visitors had barely had a touch before they fell behind. Right-back Álvaro Brachi's deadly near-post cross was bundled in inadvertently by defender Fabian Schär under pressure from Nemanja Nikolić. A stunned Basel regrouped and began to take the game to their hosts. Marco Streller led the charge, forcing Mladen Božović into a strong far-post save from Marcelo Díaz's free-kick and going close with a fierce effort from distance shortly after.

Videoton struck again from a well-worked set piece. Nikola Mitrović snapped a low corner into the box for Ádám Gyurcsó, who squared into the danger zone for Marco Caneira to crash in. Basel returned to dominance and Božović had to be alert to deny Valentin Stocker's sharp back-heel and thwart Streller again before the break. Basel racked up ten corners to no avail before the interval.

The second half bore an uncanny resemblance to the first, with Basel enjoying the lion's share of possession and the hosts picking and choosing the time to counter. It was unhappily familiar for Streller, too, who failed to beat Božović once again after Stocker's stylish through ball put him clear in one of the precious few opportunities for either team.

Basel's 15th corner brought a goal, as Schär rose to head Fabian Frei's delivery into the top corner. Unfortunately for the visitors it did not arrive until the 91st minute, and the Videoton defence held firm in the frantic final few moments.