ludogorets late show downs ten-man basel published: wednesday 22 october 2014, 23.15cet pfc ludogorets razgrad 1-0 fc basel 1893 the hosts became the first bulgarian side to earn uefa champions league group stage points but left it late to defeat the ten-man visitors.
by matthias rötters from natsionalen stadion vasil levski
• ludogorets become first bulgarian side to earn group stage points • yordan minev's added-time winner seals first win in competition • basel play 72 minutes with ten men after geoffroy serey die's red • hosts join swiss champions and liverpool on three points in group b • next games: basel v ludogorets (4 november)
pfc ludogorets razgrad claimed a first ever win by a bulgarian side in the uefa champions league group stage but left it late to defeat fc basel 1893 who played 72 minutes with ten men.
after a good start by basel – fresh from their home victory against liverpool fc – the visitors were up against it from the 18th minute after geoffroy serey die was shown a red card for a challenge on cosmin moţi. the numerical advantage did not immediately seem too obvious and derlis gonzalez almost put paulo sousa's men ahead after a nice give-and-go with davide calla.
however, as the half wore on, ludogorets inevitably gained the upper hand and forced basel back deep into their own half. despite their territorial dominance, the hosts found it difficult to manoeuvre around the resolute swiss side and managed just one clear effort before the half-time whistle; fábio espinho's free-kick deflected into the path of marcelinho but the brazilian shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
after the interval, with the fans creating an electric atmosphere inside the arena, ludogorets seemed determined to grab the moment and earn their first points of the campaign. fuelled by a wall of noise they threw everything at the ten men and went close on numerous occasions. dani abalo and fábio espinho both failed to find the net within a minute of each other as basel's vaclík displayed all his talent to keep things level.
it looked lie it was not going to happen for ludogorets as substitute younes hamza missed twice from close range while wanderson scuffed an effort wide from the edge of the area. the ten of basel thought they had secured a point, but it was not to be, as the bulgarian champions broke in the 92nd minute, and wanderson slipped a pass to yordan minev on the left. the full-back cut inside his marker onto his right foot and drilled at goal low from 20 metres, the ball sliding into the near corner with vaclík wrongfooted. scenes of jubilation erupted inside the natsionalen stadion vasil levski.
