Contract reward for Basel pair

FC Basel 1893 have been handed a double boost ahead of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 second leg against Sporting Clube de Portugal after announcing contract extensions for defender Reto Zanni and goalkeeper Louis Crayton.

Double deal
The Swiss side have tied down Zanni, 28, for a further three years, keeping him at the club until summer 2011. Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Crayton was awarded another year on his deal which now runs until summer 2009. Zanni joined Basel in early 2005 from FC Thun and has been a first-team regular ever since while former Liberian international Crayton moved to the club in the summer of the same year from FC Concordia Basel and has provided a reliable back-up option to first Pascal Zuberbühler, then Franco Costanzo.

First-leg deficit
Christian Gross's side host their Portuguese opponents in the UEFA Cup on Thursday looking to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit. That match saw Crayton make his first appearance in the competition this term when he replaced the injured Costanzo just before half-time while Zanni has played eight games in Europe this season but missed the first meeting with Sporting due to suspension.