Crvena Zvezda suffer at Strasbourg

FK Crvena Zvezda threw away a two-goal lead to concede twice at RC Strasbourg in the final eleven minutes and bow out of the UEFA Cup as a Kevin Gameiro double, the second four minutes into added time, denied the Serbo-Montenegrin side the win they needed to finish in the top three of Group E. The result meant that FC Basel 1893 progressed to the knockout stages at Crvena Zvezda's expense despite losing 3-1 to AS Roma.

Gameiro late show
Dušan Basta and Adrijan Djokaj gave Crvena Zvezda a commanding advantage to seemingly set the visitors on their way to knockout stages before Gameiro struck twice in the closing stages to break Serbo-Montenegrin hearts. Strasbourg finish second behind Roma, and face a Round of 32 tie against a side joining the competition from the UEFA Champions League.

Basta finish
The home side began positively, Arthur Boka going close on five minutes with a free-kick that flew just too high after Ricardo Faty was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. Visiting goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković was called into action soon after when Amare Diane tested him with a header from 12 metres. However, having spent the majority of the opening half-hour on the back foot, Crvena Zvezda burst forward and opened the scoring, Basta slotting in from close range with his right foot.

Žigić denied
The second half started in similar fashion with Strasbourg dominating and Crvena Zvezda playing predominantly on the counterattack. Strasbourg nearly equalised in the 49th minute but Gameiro's ambitious 30-metre effort flew past the post. Crvena Zvezda almost made it 2-0 a minute later but home goalkeeper Stephane Cassard saved well to deny Nikola Žigić, who had latched on to a free-kick from the right flank.

All but over
Cassard saved again from Žigić after 57 minutes as the visitors seemingly confirmed their victory. When Adrijan Djokaj fired in from the edge of the area following neat work from the impressive Žigić it seemed that the Belgrade side were all but through, and Žigić nearly added to the visitors' joy with 15 minutes remaining but shot over from close range.

Le Pen assists
But Strasbourg reduced the arrears on 79 minutes when Gameiro headed in Ulrich Le Pen's cross, and the same two players combined deep into added time to leave Crvena Zvezda stunned as Gameiro silenced the travelling fans with another header.